THE  FURNITURE 
OF  OUR 
FOREFATHERS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/furnitureofourfoOOsing_0 


BEDSTEAD 

Carried  oak  nvood ;  'with  columns,  tester,  and  head-board  of  debased  classic  character,  ornamented 
in  marquetry.      English,  dated  IJQJ.      Height,  ~  ft.  4  in.; 
length,  7  ft.  11  in.;  width,  J  ft.  8  in. 


THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR 

FOREFATHERS 


By  ESTHER  SINGLETON 

WITH  CRITICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  PLATES 
By  RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAX  PAGE  AND  COMPANY 

1900 


COPYRIGHT,    1900,  BY 
DOUBLEDAY,     PAGE    &  CO. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  Early  Settlers  .....  3 

Their  arrival  and  manner  of  living;  law  regulating  free  grants 
of  land  made;  endeavours  to  improve  dwellings;  condition 
of  settlements  in  1619;  further  measures  taken  toward  ar- 
chitectural improvement,  1635;  the  effect  of  the  Indian 
massacre  in  1622;  gradual  improvement  of  houses. 

Contents  of  Dwellings  Previous  to  1650        .  7 

General  inventories  of  "  necessaries  for  planters." 

The  Looking-Glass     ......  9 

Its  price,  make,  and  rarity. 

The  Trenchers   .......  9 

The  Bed      ........  io 

Its  importance ;  price  ;  descriptions  of  bed  and  fittings  belong- 
ing to  various  royal  personages  in  England,  10—14;  general 
description,  14-18. 

General  character  of  furniture  in  middle  of  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, 18;  its  make;  style;  wood;  nationality;  style  of  deco- 
ration; its  gradual  evolution,  18—21. 

Thomas  Deacon's  Possessions      .        .        .  21—22 
The  Wainscot    .......  23 

The  Carpet        .......  24 

Inventory  of  Leonard  Calvert        .        .  24—26 

Governor  of  Maryland. 

Miscellaneous    Information    Regarding  Indi- 
vidual Possessions  of  the  Period     .  26—29 
Glass  ........  29 

Various  Old  Letters         .        .  .  30—34 

To  private  persons  descriptive  of  mode  of  life  in  1686  and 
thereabouts. 

The  Estate  of  Captain  Stephen  Gill      .  34—36 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Cupboard     .......  36 

Similarity  to  each  other  in  court-,  standing-,  livery-cupboard 
and  press  ;  examples  from  inventories  with  their  prices,  37  ;  its 
variations  in  size  and  decoration. 

Rooms  in  Houses  of  the  Seventeenth  Century  .  38 
Inventory  of  Mr.  Gyles  Mode         .        .  .40 

of  York  County,  Va.,  40,  and  various  other  inventories,  44. 

The  Advance  of  Luxury  .  .  .  .  -44 
The  Chair  ......  45—51 

Its  makes,  prices,  upholstering;  favourite  patterns ;  inventories 
of  various  persons,  including  chairs,  with  valuations,  46— 47 ; 
descriptions  of  illustrations  of  chairs,  48—51. 

Further  Incr  ease  of  Luxury  A  mono  the  Planters  5  2-54 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Colonel  Francis  Epes. 

The  Box,  Chest  and  Trunk  .  .        .  -54 

General  description,  54—56  ;  description  of  personal  ownership 
of  such,  56-57. 

Inventory  ......  58—61 

Contents  of  house  belonging  to  Nicholas  Wyatt,  of  Maryland. 

The  Cabinet      ......  61-62 

Material  used  for  construction ;  design,  decoration,  style,  etc. 

The  Table  ......  62-65 

Evolution  of  different  styles  and   shapes;  ornamentation, 
design  ;  prices,  etc. 

Books  ........  65 

Their  scarcity  and  prices,  65  ;  libraries  of  Dr.  John  Wil- 
loughby  and  of  Thomas  Perkins,  65-66. 

Table-Forks  and  Warming-Pans  .  .  66-67 

Influence  of  French  Renaissance  .  .  68—69 

Home-Made  Furniture      .        .  .  .  -7° 

Furnishing  of  a  Court-House    .  .  .  -7° 

of  the  late  seventeenth  century  period. 

Miscellaneous    Information     concerning  the 

Virginian  Settler  .        .        .       70— 73 

His  mode  of  living  ;  average  household  goods  ;  the  greatly 
increased  prosperity  of  the  planter;  of  settlements,  etc.,  etc. 


List  of  Illustrations 


WITH  CRITICAL  NOTES  ON  MANY  OF 
THE     PLATES     BY     RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ALL    THE    NOTES    FURNISHED    BY    MR.  STURGIS 
ARE    FOLLOWED    BY    HIS    INITIALS,    R.  S. 


Frontispiece       .....  facing 

Bedstead  with  very  large  tester  supported  on  separate  columns.  The  material  is  oak  with 
a  little  inlay  of  coloured  woods  in  the  headboard.  Good  taste  and  a  feeling  of  appro- 
priateness is  seen  in  the  modification  of  such  architectural  features  as  the  Ionic  capitals ; 
these  being  made  unusually  large  and  spreading  to  correspond  with  the  slenderness  of  parts  or 
what  may  be  called  the  shafts.  The  free  use  of  reedings  is  noticeable  ;  these  becoming  what 
are  called  godrons  (orgadroons)  where  they  decorate  a  convexly  rounded  surface.     R.  S. 

Oaken  Cabinet         ....  facing 

Closed  cabinet  in  two  bodies,  with  top  also  separate.  Four  cupboards,  four  drawers.  The 
strictly  architectural  character  of  the  design  marks  it  as  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The 
freedom  of  the  sculpture  and  the  peculiar  forms  of  the  scroll-work  suggest  a  continental 
origin.     The  piece  is  probably  Flemish  and  of  about  1580.    R.  S. 

An  Old  Chair  ....... 

Walnut  with  yoke- shaped  top  rail,  turned  tapering  side  supports  under  central  panel 
curved  backwards.  There  is  a  beading  around  the  lower  curved  edge  of  the  seat  of  the 
chair  and  the  edges  of  the  cabriole-shaped  legs.  The  front  and  back  legs  are  similar  in 
shape.     The  seat  is  covered  with  pile  needlework  of  floral  pattern.    About  1710. 

Oaken  Stool        .....  facing 

Date  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  The  extremely  simple  decoration  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  mirror  frame  ( see  page  16).  Height,  8^2  inches;  length,  16  inches; 
width,  li/i  inches.     R.  S. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair  .... 

Painted,  high  back  with  top  rail  carved  and  pierced  over  a  long  panel  rounded  at  top  and 
bottom.  The  seat  is  plain  frame  filled  in  with  the  original  cane  webbing.  The  legs  are 
carved  with  projecting  knees  and  feet  turned  outward.  A  carved  and  pierced  rail  joins 
the  two  front  legs.     The  ornament  is  of  scrolls  and  foliage. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chairs      .        .  facing 

The  chair  to  the  left  is  said  to  have  been  used  by  Charles  II.  The  one  upon  the  right- 
hand  was  used  by  Robert  Proud,  historian. 


Ill 


Table  with  Two  Flaps 


Oak,  oval  ;  the  new  top  stands  on  six  baluster-shaped  legs,  two  of  which  move  in 
sockets  to  support  the  flaps.  A  framework  of  plain  bars  strengthens  the  legs,  and  on 
one  side  isa  long  drawer  with  carved  front.  Seventeenth  century.  Height,  2  feet,  4 y2 
inches.    Top,  a  feet,  9  inches  by  2  feet,  7  inches. 


1  1 


vii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Eighteenth  Century  Windsor  Armchair     .      .  14 

Birch  ;  the  back  is  formed  by  a  curved  top  rail,  a  curved  central  panel,  two  straight 

pieces  and  spindle-shaped  bars.  The  Hat  arm-rail  is  supported  by  four  bars  on  each  side. 
Cabriole-shaped  legs. 

An  Old  Mirror  ....         facing  16 

Dated  1603,  undoubtedly  English.  The  whole  is  of  oak.  This  piece,  dating  from  the 
year  of  Elizabeth's  death  and  the  accession  of  James  I,  was  put  together  in  the  simplest 
way  with  mortise  and  tenon  joints  held  by  pins,  but  there  is  a  little  elaboration  in  the 
ornament  secured  by  inserting  little  tesserae  of  oak  alternately  light  and  dark  in  the  flat  up- 
rights of  the  frame.  Otherwise  the  carving  is  of  the  most  obvious  and  simple  descrip- 
tion, effective  enough,  but  neither  choice  nor  delicate  in  its  lines.  The  bounding  out- 
line of  the  frame  is  certainly  not  happy.  Height,  2  feet,  3^  inches;  width,  2  feet, 
3/%  inches  ;  the  dimensions  being  taken  over  all.     R.  S. 

Chair  of  Walnut       .        .        .        .        .  .16 

It  is  supposedly  Flemish.     The  turning  and  moulding  are  skilful,  but  the  sculpture  is 
hasty  and  unmeaning  ;  dated  1678. 

Small  Chest  and  Table  of  Oak       .        facing  18 

Table  and  small  chest ;  the  table  dated  1622.  These  pieces  have  been  painted.  They 
were  formerly  a  part  of  the  furniture  of  Montacute  Priory  (Somersetshire)  and  probably 
the  box  was  intended  for  offerings.  The  simple  sculpture  of  the  panel  on  the  front  of 
this  receptacle  may  be  compared  with  that  of  the  other  cabinets ;  it  is  more 
pictorial  and  descriptive  than  they  and  reminds  the  student  of  the  inlaid  Dutch  work  of 
the  epoch  in  the  preference  shown  for  floral  forms.  There  is  nothing  attractive  about 
the  table  except  the  graceful  outline  given  to  the  turned  and  carved  legs.     R.  S. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair  of  Oak        .        .  20 

High-backed  chair  bearing  arms  which  are  thought  to  be  those  of  Thomas  Went- 
worth,  the  first  earl  of  Stafford,  minister  of  Charles  1.  and  beheaded  in  1641.  The 
chair  is  of  about  1630. 

Butter  Cupboard  of  Oak        .        .         facing  22 

Cabinet  entirely  enclosed,  with  two  cupboards  and  a  secret  below,  and  another  large  cup- 
board with  two  doors  above,  and  two  large  drawers.  The  material  in  the  present  instance 
is  entirely  oak,  and  in  the  sides  there  are  perforations  to  admit  air.  Pieces  of  this  pattern 
are  often  called  in  England  butter  cupboards.  The  decoration  is  all  of  the  simplest  rural 
character,  done  by  clever  village  carpenters  skilled  in  the  use  of  simple  tools  and  enjoying 
the  humble  decorations  which  they  applied  to  the  rough  pieces  they  made.  As  the  fram- 
ing of  the  present  cupboard  is  of  the  simplest  and  most  obvious  sort,  the  tenons  held  in 
their  places  by  two  pins  to  each,  so  the  carving  is  a  mere  varying  of  the  surface  by  em- 
bossed figures  alternating  with  slight  sinkings;  but  nearly  all  applied  with  excellent  taste, 
and  an  admirable  sense  of  what  figures  would  truly  adorn  the  panels  and  solids.  The 
very  curious  framing  of  the  upper  doors  may  be  noted.  There  are  no  pieces  which  can 
be  called  stiles  or  rails,  and  the  piece  which  has  a  tenon  cut  at  one  end  has  a  mortise  cut 
in  its  side  near  the  opposite  end.  Total  height,  4  feet,  8j/£  inches;  width,  4  feet,  4 
inches.     R.  S. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair      .        .        .  23 

Armchair  of  walnut  wood. 

Oaken  Coffer     .....       facing  24 

Chest  bearing  the  curious  inscription  "  This  is  Esther  Hobsonne  chist,  1637."  It  is  of 
oak  and  unquestionably  English.  As  is  common  in  large  coffers  of  the  time  in  England, 
there  is  little  attempt  to  make  the  piece  a  complete  parallelogram  on  each  of  its  four 
sides  with  a  continuous  base  of  parallel  mouldings  and  a  cap  or  edge  of  cover  to  cor- 
respond. Almost  any  French  or  German  chest  of  the  time  would  be  built  on  those 
lines,  and  the  horizontal  members  of  top  and  bottom  would  have  been  the  controlling 

viii 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


elements  of  the  design  ;  while  the  feet  would  be  additional  balls  or  baluster- shaped 
terminals.  The  English  chest,  however,  frequently  had,  as  in  this  case,  the  four  up- 
rights which  form  the  two  ends  of  its  principal  sides  carried  down  beyond  the  horizontals 
to  form  feet  for  the  whole  box.  This  is  to  a  great  extent  destructive  of  the  dignity  of 
the  piece,  which,  accordingly,  has  a  much  more  familiar  and  carelessly  designed  look. 
This,  however,  is  abundantly  made  up  in  the  case  before  us  by  the  admirably  adapted 
sculpture.  It  is  seldom  that  a  piece  of  furniture  is  found  which,  covered  all  over  with 
carving,  has  still  that  carving  so  well  fitted  for  its  place,  in  every  part,  and  so  spirited  in 
detail.  The  very  simplicity  and  rustic  character  of  the  carving  increase  this  appearance 
of  attractiveness  of  purpose  and  fitness  of  all  its  parts.  Height,  2  feet,  6  inches ;  length, 
5  feet,  i  inch  ;  depth,  2  feet,  i)^  inches.    R.  S. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair      .        .        .  27 

Chair  of  the  type  known  as  "Curule  chair,"  about  1660.  It  is  in  walnut  except  the 
seat,  which  is  temporary  and  covered  roughly  with  a  piece  of  velvet.  The  carving  is  of 
extreme  rudeness  and  seems  to  be  not  merely  hasty  but  also  the  work  of  an  unskilled 
hand.     R.  S. 

Two  Armchairs  in  Jacobean  Style      .      facing  32 

Two  armchairs,  Jacobean  in  style  and  to  be  dated  about  1630  although  the  upholstery 
and  the  very  carefully  made  cane  work  may  well  be  later.     R.  S. 

Bedstead  with  Tester  and  Hangings   .    facing  34 

The  visible  woodwork  is  of  about   1620—30  ;  the  upholstery  probably  fifty  years  later  ; 
curtains  running  easily  on  rings  ;  very  well  designed  hand-made  fringes.     R.  S. 

Oaken  Cupboard       ....         facing  36 

Cabinet  dated  1603.  Undoubtedly  English  work.  The  material  is  oak  except  where  a 
tulip  plant  is  coarsely  inlaid  and  where,  below  the  date  and  below  the  drawers  and  the 
inlaid  tulip,  is  a  band  of  alternating  squares,  light  and  dark  wood.  The  sculptured  bust 
of  the  lady  is  of  singular  grace  and  delicacy  although  it  shows  a  hand  unpracticed  in  the 
use  of  relief  in  figure  subject.  That  is  to  say.  it  is  rather  the  front  part  of  a  statue 
copied  in  the  wood  than  a  deliberately  made  design  in  relief.  The  treatment 
of  the  costume  even  in  its  minutest  details  is  unusually  effective.  The  purely  dec- 
orative sculpture  is  peculiar  in  the  careful  avoidance  of  massive  or  surface  covering 
leafage  ;  it  is  all  reduced  to  very  narrow  ridges  and  terminal  sprigs  hardly  broader,  in  this 
closely  resembling  much  of  the  sculpture  of  peasant  furniture  in  the  far  south  of  France  dur- 
ing this  and  the  succeeding  century.  The  wrought  iron  work  is  interesting  especially  be- 
cause of  its  evident  rudeness.  It  is  apparently  the  work  of  a  country  blacksmith.  Height, 
4  feet,  %y2  inches;  length,  3  feet,  10}^  inches;  depth,  I  foot,  9^  inches.     R.  S. 

Armchair         .....         facing  38 

Of  about  1650,  with  upholstering  either  of  the  same  date  or  renewed  in  the  original 
style. 

Walnut  Chair    .......  39 

Belonging  to  Sir  William  Gooch,  Governor  of  Virginia  1727-47.     From  the  original 
in  the  possession  or  the  Virginia  Historical  Society,  Richmond. 

Armchair  Dated  1670        .        .        .       facing  40 

Of  oak  and  apparently  of  English  work.  The  initials  I.  P.  cannot  now  be  identified. 
Although  so  much  later  than  the  cabinet  facing  page  3  the  sculpture  is  of  almost  ex- 
actly the  same  character  ;  indicating,  perhaps,  the  rural  or  remote  origin  of  the  piece. 
In  days  of  slow  and  difficult  communication  the  workmen  of  an  out-of-the-way  country- 
side would  be  following  the  traditions  of  their  fathers  at  a  time  when  the  carvers  of  the 
metropolis  and  its  neighborhood  had  better  advantage  from  over  seas  or  from  the  influence 
of  the  court.  This  piece  can  hardly  be  praised  for  its  design  or  workmanship.  It  is  the 
rude  work  of  unskilful  and  not  over-tasteful  artisans.     R.  S. 

ix 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Seventeenth  Century  Cromwell  Chair      .      .  42 

Armchair  of  about  1650  with  upholstery  either  of  the  same  date   or  renewed  in  the 
original  style. 

An  Oak  Chair  of  1649       .        .        .        .  -43 

The  stuffed  seat  is  covered  with  maroon  leather  over  which  is  a  piece  of  canvas  worked 
with  colored  wools  in  the  manner  of  a  carpet. 

Two  Armchairs  .        .        .        .        .        .  -45 

Two  armchairs  of  about  1660,  the  description  in  the  museum  catalogue  stating  them 
to  be  of  the  north  of  England,  Yorkshire  and  Derbyshire.  The  one  at  the  right  should 
be  compared  with  the  "  Curule  chair"  (page  27),  which  shows  a  similar  handling  of 
the  rough  ornamentation.     R.  S. 

Two  Seventeenth  Century  Armchairs  .   facing  48 

Armchair  ;  dated  1668.  Of  oak.  Armchair  of  about  the  same  period,  of  walnut.  The 
oak  chair  has  a  little  very  well  designed  scrollwork  and  incised  ornamentation  in  the 
panel  of  the  back  which  corresponds  with  and  repeats  the  incised  figures  of  the  date. 
The  walnut  chair  has  no  wooden  back,  not  even  a  top  rail,  and  the  seat  and  back  are 
made  alike  of  stamped  and  figured  leather.  This  leather  is  of  elegant  design,  the  semi- 
heraldic  decoration  filling  the  surface  of  the  broad  strap  very  perfectly  and  with  a  true 
sense  of  its  significance.  On  the  other  hand,  the  woodwork  of  the  piece  is  absolutely 
without  character,  even  the  little  balusters  which  unite  the  two  straining-pieces  beneath  the 
seat,  having  all  the  appearance  of  much  later  work,  are  simply  turned  in  the  lathe.    R.  S. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair      .        .        .  -49 

Painted  ;  high  back  with  carved  and  pierced  top  rail.  Back  framing  and  lower  rail 
carved  and  incised,  the  central  panel  of  the  back  and  seat  filled  in  with  cane  webbing. 
The  legs  and  two  straining  rails  are  spirally  turned.  Carved  and  incised  front  rail. 
About  1660.     Owned  by  W.  H.  Evans,  Esq.,  Forde  Abbey,  England. 

Seventeenth  Century  Chair      .        .        .  -49 

Walnut,  high  back,  with  a  long  panel  rounded  at  each  end  and  filled  in  with  cane  web- 
bing, surmounted  by  a  pedimental  piece  carved  and  pierced,  supported  bv  two  turned  pil- 
lars continuous  with  the  cane  webbing.  The  seat  is  plain  frame  filled  in  with  cane  web- 
bing. The  front  legs  and  straining  rails  are  turned.  Owned  by  C.  H.  Talbot,  Esq., 
Lacock  Abbey,  England. 

High-backed  Chair    .        .        .        .        .  -5° 

Covered  with  stamped  Spanish  leather  of  a  tawny  colour  fastened  with  brass  studs.  The 
front  rail  consists  of  two  interlacing  scrolls.  From  the  original  in  the  Memorial  Hall, 
Philadelphia. 

Oaken  Cradles         ....         facing  50 

Cradle  ( I ),  dated  1687,  of  oak  ;  (2)  cradle,  also  of  oak  and  of  about  1660.  Each  of 
these  very  interesting  pieces  is  a  simple  box  with  four  upright  posts  at  the  corners,  which 
posts  are  framed  into  the  rockers  in  one  case  by  mortise  and  tenon,  in  the  other  by  hav- 
ing the  end  of  the  post  saw-cut  for  a  depth  of  three  or  four  inches,  and  the  much  thinner 
rocker  let  into  this  and  pinned  fast.  No.  1  bears  its  date  on  the  panel  of  the  toot,  the 
lines  and  the  moulding  around  them  being  in  low  relief ;  the  panels  on  the  sides  are  carved 
with  very  simple  bands  of  scrollwork  with  stars  and  similar  decorations,  all  in  slight  re- 
lief. No.  2,  much  more  elaborate,  is  carved  all  over,  framework  and  panels  alike  ; 
this  also  has  a  covered  head-piece  apparently  for  no  purpose  except  greater  display.  This 
latter  has  preserved  its  original  velvet  cushions.     R.  S. 

Seventeenth    Century   Armchair    of  Carved 

Black  Walnut    ......  50 

The  legs  are  turned,  the  seat  is  of  wooden  cane.     The  back  and  front  rail  are  highly 
carved. 


x 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Seventeenth  Century  Chair      .        .        .  51 

Armchair  of  uncertain  date,  probably  beginning  ot  seventeenth  century.  Pieces  so  devoid 
of  ornament  are  impossible  to  date  accurately.  Such  furniture,  intended  to  receive  its 
sole  decoration  from  the  upholstery,  or,  as  in  this  case,  stamped  leather-work  and  wrought 
nail-heads,  were  made  from  1550  to  1800  ;  and  during  all  this  time  their  forms  did  not 
change  in  any  definite  way.     R.  S. 

Cabinet  of  Oak  .....      facing  54 

Cabinet  with  drawers  ;  not  dated,  but  apparently  of  the  closing  years  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  This  is  an  elaborate  piece  intended  for  the  drawing-room  or  long  gallery  of  a 
mansion  ;  the  outer  doors  are  of  oak  veneered  on  the  face  with  hexagonal  pieces  of  wood 
described  in  the  original  inventory  as  "Thorn  Acacia,"  and  the  inside  also  veneered,  but 
with  oak,  except  for  the  border  of  dark  and  light  squares,  which  are  of  rosewood  and 
sycamore.  The  drawers  within,  eleven  in  number,  are  veneered  with  walnut,  with  an 
edging  of  sycamore,  but  the  edge  of  the  framework  which  supports  and  encloses  them 
is  of  walnut.  The  cornice  of  the  cabinet  is  of  pear  wood  with  walnut  inlaid  in  front,  the 
separation  hardly  visible  in  the  picture  ;  and  the  cushion-like  frieze  of  the  top  is  the  out- 
side of  the  drawer  of  which  the  face  is  of  walnut.  The  cabinet  proper,  that  is  to  say, 
the  enclosed  box-like  piece,  rests  upon  a  table  entirely  of  oak.  The  pulls  of  the  drawers 
are  probably  later  than  the  woodwork,  and  are  not  of  importance.  Such  pieces  were 
easy  to  make  in  the  country  in  the  neighbourhood  or,  perhaps,  in  the  buildings  themselves 
of  any  estate,  and  a  singular  tradition  exists  to  the  effect  than  an  attempt  was  made  to  in- 
clude in  the  decoration  specimens  of  all  kinds  of  wood  found  on  the  estate  ;  but  this 
legend  has  rather  the  air  of  having  been  deliberately  invented  at  a  later  date.  What  is 
noticeable  is  the  willing  abandonment  of  all  free  and  untaught  decoration  on  the  part  of 
the  workmen.  Evidently  a  more  sophisticated  age  had  come  when  the  only  carving  al- 
lowed was  in  the  form  of  cable  twisted  uprights  and  horizontals.  Height  of  table,  2  feet, 
3  inches  ;  height  of  box,  2  feet,  5  inches.     R.  S. 

Oaken  Chest  of  Drawers  .        .        .        .  -55 

Cabinet  or  upright  chest  of  drawers  of  the  time  of  William  III  (  1688  to  1702).  The 
vicious  habit,  ultimately  destructive  of  all  sincerity  and  character  in  cabinet  work — the 
habit  of  planting  on  mouldings — had  made  some  headway  in  France  even  at  a  much 
earlier  date,  as  before  the  accession  of  Louis  XIV  ;  but  in  England  the  tradition  of  solid 
oak  and  of  straightforward  carpenter  work  was  slower  to  give  way.  The  piece  is  of  oak 
with  the  rosettes  and  drop  handles  of  brass.  Its  dimensions  are:  4  feet,  4^  inches  in 
total  height,  and  3  feet,  2  inches  in  width.     R.  S. 

Cabinet    ......         facing  56 

Cabinet,  the  panels  of  1630  or  the  following  years  and  undoubtedly  of  English  work  ; 
though  the  minor  decorations  of  the  piece  indicate  a  date  of  1670  or  thereabout.  Such 
remounting  of  carved  panels  is  not  uncommon.  The  cabinet  is  entirely  in  walnut  ;  the 
carving  ot  the  large  panels  is  extremely  interesting  because  of  the  frank  treatment  of  a 
complicated  subject,  in  each  case,  by  a  hand  of  but  little  skill.  It  is  this  willingness  of 
skilled  artisans,  who  were  yet  not  artists  of  knowledge  and  power,  to  do  work  of  decora- 
tive character  which  makes  the  furniture  as  well  as  the  architecture,  the  silverware  and 
the  textiles  of  the  seventeenth  and  the  previous  centuries  so  attractive.  In  our  time 
these  panels  would  have  to  be  bare  of  ornament  or  carved  with  the  most  conventional 
foliage,  or  else  entrusted  to  a  sculptor  who  would  charge  $200  apiece  for  them. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  purely  decorative  parts  are  of  but  little  value.  The  heads  are 
poorly  modelled,  the  seated  figures  in  the  spandrels  are  wretchedly  composed,  and  the 
leafage  has  but  little  character.  An  exception  may  be  made  in  favour  of  the  upright 
pilasters  beyond  the  baluster  columns  of  the  upper  section.  It  may  be  thought  that  the 
three  figures  in  low  relief  are  portraits;  the  uppermost  one  might  well  be  James  I  of 
England  and  the  two  lower  ones  his  sons,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  afterwards  Charles  I, 
and  the  Duke  of  York,  afterwards  James  II.  Total  height,  5  feet,  8  inches;  width 
over  all,  4  feet,  5  inches.     R.  S. 

Cabinet       ........  60 

The  upper  part  is  a  cupboard  with  two  doors,  inclosing  shelves,  and  the  lower  part  filled 

xi 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


with  four  drawers.  It  is  of  oak,  veneered  with  various  woods,  chiefly  walnut,  and  has  in 
several  panels  figured  and  floral  ornament  in  pear  wood  inlaid  in  ebony.  About  1670-80. 
Height,  6  feet,  9  inches  ;  width,  4  feet,  6  inches  ;  depth,  21  inches. 

Sections  of  Seventeenth  Century  Cabinet        .  61 

Decorations  similar  to  the  English  late  Elizabethan  or  Jacobean  style.    Flemish,  about 
1620.     Height,  3  feet,  6  inches  ;  length,  4  feet,  1  inch  ;  width,  1  foot,  8  inches. 

Seventeenth  Century  Oak  Table  with  Extend- 
ing Top        .....  63 

Table  and  stool  or  short  bench  ;  the  table  about  1605.  It  is  an  extension  table  ;  the 
top  in  two  pieces  united  by  a  hinge.  The  godrons  noticed  in  the  bedstead  (frontispiece), 
are  here  relieved,  each  upon  its  own  fillet  ;  a  kind  of  combination  of  Elizabethan  "  strap- 
ornament"  with  the  Jacobean  reedings.     R.  S. 

Table  with  Three  Flaps  .        .         facing  64 

Table  with  triangular  top  and  three  leaves.  Its  extremely  small  dimensions  indicated 
its  use  as  an  ornament,  or  perhaps,  as  a  piece  of  furniture  especially  made  for  a  child.  It 
is  entirely  of  oak,  probably  of  English  make,  and  its  simply  turned  legs  seem  to  indicate 
a  date  as  of  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Height,  2  feet;  top,  2  feet,  5  inches 
in  greatest  dimensions  when  the  leaves  are  raised.     R.  S. 

Walnut  Chairs  ...        .        .        .  65 

Originally  belonging  to  Ralph  Wormeley  of  Virginia.     Now  owned  by  Mrs.  John 
Tayloe  Perrin  of  Baltimore.  (Seepage  51.) 

Chair  Showing  the  Renaissance  Influence         .  69 

Originally  belonging  to  Colonel  William  Byrd  of  Westover,  now  owned  by  Miss  Elizabeth 
Byrd  Nicholas,  Washington,  D.  C.  The  back  and  seat  are  stuffed  and  upholstered  in 
velvet.  The  back  legs  terminate  in  the  hoof  form  and  the  front  in  the  ball  and  claw. 
The  leg  curves  outward  from  the  cover  of  the  seat  and  is  boldly  and  gracefully  carved 
with  the  acanthus. 

Black  Oak  Sideboard        .        .        .       facing  70 

Said  to  have  belonged  to  Lord  Baltimore,  and  to  have  been  brought  bv  him  from  England, 
when  it  fell  into  the  possession  of  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton.  It  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Edward  C.  Pickering  of  the  Observatory,  Cambridge,  Mass.  (There  seems  to  be 
doubt  as  to  the  authenticity  of  this  piece.  Experts  have  stated  that  it  is  of  a  later 
date  than  that  credited  to  it.  ) 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Part  1 


OAKEN  CABINET 

In  tnxo  bodies  ivith  lop  also  separate.     Four  cupboards,  four  drawers.     The  character  oj  the  sculpture 
and  scroll-ivork  suggests  a  continental  origin  —  probably  Flemish.     Sixteenth  century. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Part  I:  E,arly  Southern 

CARVED  OAK  AND  WALNUT  OF  THE  XVIITH  CENTURY 

EFORE  describing  the  household  furniture 
used  by  the  early  English  settlers  in  this 
country,  it  will  be  well  for  us  to  form  a 
clear  idea  of  the  houses  in  which  they  lived. 

The  First  Plantation  of  one  hundred 
gentlemen-adventurers  and  labourers  brought 
with  them  nothing  but  the  bare  necessaries  of  life — 
food,  clothing,  and  tools.  They  wasted  valuable  time  in 
hunting  for  mythical  gold  ore;  and  when  the  First  Supply 
(equally  poorly  provided),  consisting  of  two  ships  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty  persons,  arrived  (1607),  nine  months 
later,  it  found  only  forty  survivors,  and  of  these  "  ten  only 
able  men,  all  utterly  destitute  of  houses,  not  one  as  yet  built, 
so  that  they  lodged  in  cabins  and  holes  within  the  ground."* 
Captain  Newport,  who  was  in  command  of  the  First 
Supply,  had  a  church  and  a  storehouse  built  by  those  under 


*A  Briefe  Declaration,  etc.  (1625). 

3 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


him,  and  the  cabins  of  Jamestown  were  enclosed  within  a 
palisade.  However,  fire  broke  out  in  the  storehouse  and 
reduced  the  whole  place  to  ashes,  including  the  stockade. 
Fortunately,  the  entire  cargo  had  not  been  landed,  but  aid 
was  badly  needed.  Rebuilding  was  soon  begun  ;  church, 
storehouse,  and  forty  houses  of  rafts,  sedge  and  earth  were 
completed  in  1608,  and  twenty  more  houses  were  built  in 

1609.  All  of  these,  however,  were 
hopelessly  decayed  in  1610,  as  might  be 
expected  from  their  construction. 

Sir  Thomas  Smith,  who  was  now  in 
charge,  seems  still  to  have  directed  his 
efforts  towards  the  immediate  profit  of 
the  Virginia  Company,  rather  than  the 
safety  of  the  plantation,  should  supplies 
fail.  We  learn  that  the  colonists  were 
"  wholly  employed  in  cutting  down  of 
masts,  cedar,  black  walnut,  clapboard, 
etc.,  and  in  digging  gold  ore  (as  some 
thought),  which,  being  sent  to  England, 
proved  dirt."  The  Third  Supply,  car- 
rying food  and  clothing,  was  sent  in 
1608,  but,  as  most  of  the  provisions 
were  lost  in  the  wreck  of  the  principal 
ship  in  the  Bermudas,  the  colonists 
were  worse  off  than  ever,  and  the 
dreadful  Starving  Time,  with  its  can- 
nibal horrors,  followed. 
In  1 610,  Lord  Delaware  arrived  with  some  relief, 
and  was  followed  by  Sir  Thomas  Dale  and  Sir  Thomas 
Gates,  each  with  three  or  four  ships. 

On  taking  charge,  Lord  Delaware  undertook  construc- 

4 


AN  OLD  CHAIR 

Walnut  with  yoke-shaped  top 
rail,  turned  tapering  side  supports 
under  central  panel  curved  back- 
wards. There  is  a  beading  around 
the  lower  curved  edge  of  iheseat 
of  the  chair  and  round  the  edges 
of  the  cabriole  legs.  The  front 
and  back  legs  are  similar  in  shape. 
The  seat  is  covered  with  pile 
needlework  of  floral  pattern. 
About  1 7 10.  Owned  by  Lord 
Zouche,  Pulborough,  England. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


tions  of  a  less  flimsy  character  than  before,  covering  the 
roofs  with  boards  and  the  sides  with  Indian  mats.  On  his 
departure,  on  account  of  ill-health,  Dale  succeeded  him 
and  still  further  improved  the  buildings.  He  erected  a 
wooden  church,  storehouses,  and  many  dwellings,  with  the 
lower  story  of  brick.  Dale  made  a  law  by  which  every 
arriving  father  with  a  family  was  to  have,  rent  free,  a 
house  of  at  least  four  rooms,  with  twelve  acres  of  fenced 
land,  upon  which  he  must  grow  grain.  Dale's  efforts  bore 
little  fruit ;  the  houses  constantly  fell  to  ruin,  and  Sir 
Thomas  Gates  was  no  more  successful  when  he  tried  to 
rejuvenate  the  town  ;  for  when  Argoll  took  command,  in 
1 6 17,  only  five  or  six  habitations  were  standing.  The 
other  settlements  had  fared  no  better. 

In  1 61 9,  "arrived  Sir  George  Yardley  to  be  Governor. 
For  forts,  towns  and  plantations,  he  found  these  :  James 
City,  Henrico,  Charles  City  and  Hundred,  Shirley  Hun- 
dred, Arrahattock,  Martin  Brandcn  and  Kicoughton,  all 
which  were  but  poorly  housed  and  as  ill-fortified;  for  in 
James  City  were  only  those  houses  that  Sir  Thomas  Gates 
built  in  the  time  of  his  government,  with  one  wherein  the 
Governor  always  dwelt,  an  addition  being  made  thereto  in 
the  time  of  Captain  Samuel  Argoll,  and  a  church,  built  of 
timber,  being  fifty  foot  in  length  and  twenty  foot  in 
breadth ;  at  Paspahayes  also  were  some  few  slight  houses 
built ;  at  Henrico,  two  or  three  old  houses,  a  poor,  ruin- 
ated church,  with  some  few  poor  buildings  in  the  island  ; 
Coxen  Dale  and  the  Maine,  and  at  Arrahattock  one  house; 
at  Charles  City,  six  houses,  much  decayed,  and  that  we 
may  not  be  too  tedious,  as  these,  so  were  the  rest  of  the 
places  furnished."* 

*A  Brief e  Declaration,  etc.  (1625). 

5 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Amid  the  struggles  and  miseries  of  all  these  years,  we 
may  conclude  that  there  was  no  temptation  to  import  good 
furniture  ;  and  that  made  by  the  resident  carpenters  and 

joiners  would  be  of  the  barest  de- 
scription. 

We  find  evidence  in  the  records 
that  measures  were  taken  to  substi- 
tute substantial  structures  for  the 
"poor  ruinated"  churches  referred 
to  in  the  Briefe  Declaration.  At  the 
first  vestry  meeting  of  the  church 
in  Northampton  County,  Va.,  Sep- 
tember 29,  1635,  it  was  resolved  to 
build  a  "  parsonage  house  upon  the 
Glybe  land  by  Christyde  next,  and 
that  the  syd  house  shall  be  forty  foot 
long  and  eighteen  foot  wide,  nyne 
foot  to  the  wall  plates  ;  and  that  ther 
shall  be  a  chimney  at  each  end  of  the 
house,  and  upon  each  syde  of  the 
chimneys  a  room,  the  one  for  a 
study,  the  other  for  a  buttery ;  alsoe 
a  partition  neere  the  midst  of  the 
house,  with  an  entry  and  tow  doors, 
the  one  to  go  into  the  Kitchinge,  the 
other  into  the  Chamber." 

In  1622,  the  Indian  massacre 
practically  wiped  out  the  outlying 
settlements,  and  the  next  year  Jamestown  contained  only 
one  hundred  and  eighty-two  individuals.  However,  the 
successful  planting  of  tobacco  in  Virginia  in  161 2  had 
insured  the  permanent  settlement  of  the  colony  through 


I7TH  CENTURY  CHAIR 
Painted,  high  back  with  top 
rail  carved  and  pierced  over  a  long 
panel  rounded  at  top  and  bottom. 
The  seat  is  a  plain  frame  filled  in 
with  the  original  cane  webbing. 
The  legs  are  carved  with  projecting 
knees  and  feet  turned  outward.  A 
carved  and  pierced  rail  joins  the  two 
front  legs.  The  ornament  is  of 
scrolls  and  foliage.  Owned  by  Mrs. 
McClure.     See  page  ^8. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


almost  any  calamity.  In  1623,  George  Sandys  wrote  home 
to  the  authorities  that  the  massacre  had  produced  one  good 
result  in  making  the  people  live  closer  together  for  mu- 
tual protection,  and  would  induce  them  to  build  frame 
houses.  However,  they  soon  scattered  again,  and,  a  year 
or  two  later,  Governor  Butler  testified,  from  personal 
observation,  that  the  meanest  English  cottages  were  more 
sightly  and  comfortable  than  the  best  dwellings  in  Vir- 
ginia, which  were  the  worst  in  the  world.  This,  how- 
ever, was  denied  by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the 
Colony.  The  buildings  undoubtedly  gradually  improved 
thenceforward,  and  the  log  cabin  gave  way  to  the  framed 
house.  The  latter  usually  had  no  cellar,  but  rested  on 
sills  ;  and  had  a  brick  chimney  at  one  and  sometimes  both 
ends.  After  the  arrival  of  Governor  Berkeley,  in  1642, 
brick  entered  more  largely  into  the  construction  of  the 
houses.  In  Jamestown,  town  lots  were  granted  on  condi- 
tion of  building  a  brick  dwelling  with  a  cellar,  measuring 
sixteen  feet  by  twenty-four,  but  for  long  afterwards  the 
dwelling  of  the  ordinary  planter  had  only  the  first  story 
and  chimney  of  brick. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  examine  the  contents  of  the 
dwellings  previous  to  1650. 

In  the  latter  year,  E.  Williams,  in  Virginia  Truly  Valued, 
gives  a  list  of  "Necessaries  for  planters."  Here  we  find 
little  more  than  the  Company  provided  its  servants  with  at 
the  first  settlement.  There  is  a  list  of  "Armes"  and 
"Tooles";  and  then  comes  "Aparell,"  under  which  head 
we  find  "  Canvase  to  make  sheets,  with  Bed  and  Bolster  to 
till  [fill?]  in  Virginia,  1  Rugge  and  Blankets."  Last  comes 
"Household  stuffe,"  including  "one  great  Iron  Pot,  large 
and  small  kettles,  Skellets,  Frying  Pannes,  Gridiron,  Spit, 

7 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Platters,  Dishes,  Spoons,  Knives."  Thus  they  took  no 
furniture  with-  them.  The  inventories,  moreover,  show 
that  the  dwellings  were  almost  bare.  Thus,  in  1637, 
Adam  Lindsay,  of  York,  died  possessed  of  only  "  one  fflock 
bed  and  covering,"  valued  at  80  pounds  in  a  total  of  2036 
pounds  tobacco.  In  the  same  year,  Anthony  Panton's 
estate  was  appraised  at  1070  pounds  tobacco,  and  here  we 
find  only  "  one  bed-board,  one  brush,  one  chest."  In  1638, 
"Edward  Bateman,  carpenter  of  St.  Maries,"  possessed  a 
boat,  tools,  two  bands,  a  tinderbox,  a  brush,  a  rope,  an  old 
doublet,  a  bearskin  and  a  chest.  These  were  valued  at  345 
pounds  tobacco.  These  instances  are  typical  of  servants 
who  had  served  their  indentures,  and  reveal  an  almost 
incredible  lack  of  household  furniture  ;  and  yet  the  inven- 
tory of  the  estate  of  "  Justinian  Snow,  late  of  St.  Mary's, 
planter,"  May  24,  1639,  shows  a  most  modest  state  of 
luxury,  although  he  was  one  of  the  richest  planters  in 
Maryland.  In  addition  to  knives,  nails,  smoothing-irons, 
tools,  spades,  pins,  line,  thread,  ribbon,  stuff,  "  friz,"  can- 
vas, buttons,  hooks  and  eyes,  shot,  nets  and  lines,  boats, 
weapons,  trunks,  chests,  wearing  apparel  in  all  stages  of 
decay,  pipes,  beads,  household  linen,  provisions,  cooking 
utensils  and  live  stock,  we  find  only : 

Tobacco 


2  Looking-glasses   0040 

3  dozen  of  trenchers   0006 

One  bed  standing  in  the  Parlor  ....  0500 
The  Bedde  and  the  Appurtenances  in  the 

littell  Parlor   0250 

a  parcell  of  Bookes   0010 

A  parcell  of  odd  household  stuff  .  .  .  0100 
3  kettells  a  chest  and  Chayer  wt  other  house- 

holde  stuff   0100 

the   Beddinge  Chest  and    tubbs   in  the 

Chamber   0160 

8 


SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY  CHAIRS 

The  chair  to  the  left  is  said  to  have  been  used  by  Charles  II.     The  one  upon  the  right  hand  was 

used  by  Robert  Proud,  historian. 
Both  specimens  are  in  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  total  inventory  amounted  to  29,766  pounds  tobacco, 
and  tobacco  was  then  ^3  1 9s.  1  od.  per  hundred  pounds. 

The  looking-glasses  would  cost  about  $20  each  in 
present  money.  At  this  date,  1639,  looking-glasses  were 
found  in  very  few  houses,  even  in  England,  though,  of 
course,  metal  mirrors  were  common  enough.  There  they 
did  not  come  into  general  use  until  after  the  Restoration, 
in  1660.  They  were  imported  from  Venice.  As  we  shall 
see,  the  looking-glass  with  gilded  or  olive-wood  frame  is 
frequently  mentioned  henceforward.  The  olive-wood  alone 
would  show  its  Italian  origin.  Though  anticipating  some- 
what, it  may  be  as  well  to  note  here  that  looking-glasses 
were  small  in  the  seventeenth  and  early  part  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century.  When  they  exceeded  four  feet  in  length 
or  breadth  they  were  made  up  of  separate  pieces,  gener- 
ally with  gilt  mouldings  at  the  divisions.  When  of  Eng- 
lish make,  they  came  from  the  Vauxhall  factory,  founded 
by  the  second  Duke  of  Buckingham,  that  "  chemist,  states- 
man, fiddler,  and  buffoon, "  who  introduced  workmen  from 
Venice  to  teach  the  art  of  making  plate-glass,  bevelling, 
etc.  Early  examples  of  mirrors  are  plentiful,  and  show 
that  the  frames  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury were  of  oak,  sometimes  ornamented  with  carving  and 
narrow  bands,  inlaid  with  small  alternate  light  and  dark 
squares  of  wood,  the  stand  consisting  of  baluster-shaped 
uprights  and  claw  feet.  The  looking-glass  was  sometimes 
fixed  on  the  top  of  a  chest  of  drawers.  Besides  the  woods 
mentioned  above,  the  looking-glass  frame  was  sometimes 
formed  of  ebony.  In  1653,  we  find  Stephen  Gill,  in  Vir- 
ginia, in  possession  of  one  of  this  material. 

The  trenchers,  of  which  Mr.  Snow  possessed  three  dozen, 
were  wooden  platters,  the  name  being  derived  from  the 
French  tranche,  a  slice,  when  the  platter  was  a  slice  of  bread. 

9 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  "household  stuff,"  mentioned  in  Mr.  Snow's 
inventory,  undoubtedly  included  rough  tables  and  benches. 
The  "bed  standing  in  the  parlour"  must  have  been  a 
respectable  article  of  furniture,  since  its  value  is  set  down 
at  rive  times  that  of  three  kettles,  the  chest,  the  chair,  and 
other  household  stuff.  The  500  pounds  of  tobacco  repre- 
sented at  least  $500  in  present  money  at  the  valuation 
given.  Thus  we  may  conclude  that  the  bed  was  a  luxuri- 
ous piece  of  furniture. 

Our  ancestors  liked  to  lie  soft,  and,  therefore,  the 
feather  bed  is  ever  in  evidence,  or,  in  default  of  that,  the 
flock  bed.  The  importance  of  the  bed  during  the  period 
of  which  we  are  treating  can  hardly  be  overestimated. 
The  "  bed "  is  sometimes  mentioned  apart  from  the  bed- 
stead, but  frequently  the  word  is  used  to  include  the  bed- 
stead and  all  its  furnishings,  as  it  manifestly  is  in  the  inven- 
tory under  consideration.  We  may  pause  here  to  describe 
the  beds  that  had  been  used  in  England  for  many  centuries, 
and  were  still  in  favour  there. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  in  Europe  the  bed-cham- 
ber was  a  room  of  great  importance,  for  kings  and  queens 
received  their  courtiers  in  their  sleeping  apartments.  The 
heavy,  imposing  four-poster  was  made  a  thing  of  beauty, 
as  well  as  luxury.  The  framework  was  often  superbly 
carved,  while  the  bed  was  of  softest  down,  the  sheets  of 
finest  linen,  the  blankets  fine,  and  the  outer  covering  of 
cloth  of  gold,  samite,  damask,  or  some  other  costly  mate- 
rial, richly  embroidered  in  heraldic  devices,  or  with  some 
appropriate  emblem.     For  example,  Shaw  tells  us: 

"Thomas  de  Mussendun,  by  will  dated  20th  July, 
1402,  bequeaths  to  his  wife  a  bed,  with  a  coverlet  made 
of  velvet  and  sattin,  and  paned  with  ermine  in  stripes  or 

10 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


borders."  In  1^56,  Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Northampton, 
bequeaths  to  her  daughter  a  bed  of  red  worsted  and  em- 
broidered. In  1409,  Elizabeth,  Lady  Despenser,  does  the 
same;  as  does  Lady  Elizabeth  Andrews  in  1474.  King 
Edward  the  Third,  in  1377,  leaves  to  Richard,  son  of  the 
Black  Prince,  "  an  entire  bed  marked  with  the  arms 
of  France  and  Eng- 
land, now  in  our 
palace  of  Westmin- 
ster." Humphrey  de 
Bohun,  Earl  of  Here- 
ford, wills,  in  1  36 1 , 
to  his  niece  a  bed  with 
the  arms  of  England. 
Agnes,  Countess  of 
Pembroke,  in  1367, 
gives  to  her  daughter 
"  a  bed,  with  the  fur- 
niture of  her  father's 
arms"  ;  and  William, 
Lord  Ferrers  of  Gro- 
by,  in  1368,  leaves 
to  his  son  "  my  green 
bed,  with  my  arms 
thereon";  and  to  his  daughter  "my  white  bed,  and  all 
the  furniture  with  the  arms  of  Ferrers  and  Ufford 
thereon."  Edward  the  Black  Prince,  in  1 376,  makes 
bequests  "to  our  son  Richard,  the  bed  which  the  King 
our  father  gave  us :  to  Sir  Roger  de  Clarendon,  a  silk 
bed:  to  Sir  Robert  de  Walsham,  our  confessor,  a  large 
bed  of  red  camora,  with  our  arms  embroidered  at  each 
corner,  also   embroidered   with  the   arms  of  Hereford: 


TABLK  WITH  TWO  FLAPS 

(Oak,  oval  ;  the  new  top  stands  on  six  baluster-shaped  legs, 
two  of  which  move  in  sockets  to  support  the  flaps.  A  frame- 
work of  plain  bars  strengthens  the  legs,  and  on  one  side  is  a  long 
drawer  with  carved  front.  17th  century.  Height,  a  ft.  4 '4  in. 
Top,  2  ft.  9  in.  by  a  ft.  7  in. ) 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


to  Mons.  Alayne  Cheyne,  our  bed  of  camora,  powdered 
with  blue  eagles."  His  widow,  in  1385,  gives  "to  my  dear 
son,  the  King  [  Richard  the  Second],  my  new  bed  of  red  vel- 
vet, embroidered  with  ostrich  feathers  of  silver  and  heads 
of  leopards  of  gold,  with  boughs  and  leaves  issuing  out  of 
their  mouths :  to  my  dear  son,  Thomas,  Earl  of  Kent,  my 
bed  of  red  camak,  paied  with  red  and  rays  of  gold :  to  my 
dear  son,  John  Holland,  a  bed  of  red  camak."  In  1368, 
Robert,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  bequeaths  his  "  bed  with  the 
eagles";  Sir  Walter  Manney,  in  1371,  "all  my  beds  and 
dossers  [dossers  were  put  at  the  backs  of  chairs  and  tables] 
in  my  wardrobe,  excepting  my  folding  bed,  paly  of  blue 
and  red";  and  Edmund,  Earl  of •  March,  "our  large  bed 
of  black  satin,  embroidered  with  white  lions  and  gold 
roses,  with  escutcheons  of  the  arms  of  Mortimer  and 
Ulster,"  in  1380.  Margaret,  Countess  of  Devon,  in  1  3 9 1 , 
leaves  to  her  son  Peter,  "  my  bed  of  red  and  green  paly"; 
Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel,  in  1392,  to  his  wife,  Philippa, 
"  a  blue  bed  marked  with  my  arms  and  the  arms  of  my 
late  wife,  also  the  hangings  of  the  hall,  which  were  lately 
made  in  London,  of  blue  tapestry  with  r.ed  roses,  with  the 
arms  of  my  sons,  the  Earl  Marshall,  Lord  Charlton,  and 
Mons.  Willm  Beauchamp ;  to  my  son  Richard,  a  standing 
bed,  called  Clove;  also  a  bed  of  silk,  embroidered  with  the 
arms  of  Arundel  and  Warren ;  also,  to  my  said  son,  the 
hangings  of  the  large  hall,  of  the  arms  of  Arundel  and 
Warren  quarterly :  to  my  dear  son  Thomas,  my  blue 
bed  of  silk,  embroidered  with  griffins:  to  my  daughter 
Charlton,  my  bed  of  red  silk :  to  my  daughter  Margaret, 
my  blue  bed."  Sir  John  Cobham,  in  1394,  "a  red  bed 
embroidered  with  lions,  also  a  bed  of  Norwich  stuff  em- 
broidered with  butterflies"  ;  and  Alice,  Lady  West, in  1  395, 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"a  bed  paled  black  and  white"  and  "a  bed  of  tapiter's 
work."  John,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  in  1397,  disposes  of 
"my  large  bed  of  black  velvet,  embroidered  with  a  circle 
of  fetter-locks  [the  badge  of  the  house  of  Lancaster]  and 
garters,  and  the  beds  made  for  my  body,  called  in  England 
trussing  beds,  my  white  bed  of  silk  with  blue  eagles 
displayed";  and  Thomas,  Earl  of  Warwick,  in  1400,  "a 
bed  of  silk,  embroidered  with  bears  and  my  arms  with  all 
thereto  appertaining."  In  141  1,  Joanne,  Lady  Hunger- 
ford,  leaves  "  a  green  bed  embroidered  with  one  grey- 
hound " ;  and  in  1415,  Edward,  Duke  of  York,  "  my  bed 
of  feathers  and  leopards,  with  the  furniture  appertaining  to 
the  same ;  also,  my  white  and  red  tapestry  of  garters,  fetter- 
locks, and  falcons  [badge  of  the  house  of  York],  my  green 
bed,  embroidered  with  a  compas."  In  1434,  Joanne, 
Lady  Bergavenny,  devises  "a  bed  of  gold  swans,  with 
tapettar  of  green  tapestry,  with  branches  and  flowers  of 
divers  colours,  and  two  pair  of  sheets  of  Raynes,  a  pair 
of  fustians,  six  pairs  of  other  sheets,  six  pairs  of  blankets, 
six  mattresses,  six  pillows,  and  with  cushions  and  bann- 
coves  that  longen  to  the  bed  aforesaid ;  a  bed  of  cloth  of 
gold  with  lebardes,  with  those  cushions  and  tapettes  of  my 
best  red  worsted  that  belong  to  the  same  bed,  and  ban- 
cours  and  formers  that  belong  to  the  same  bed ;  also,  four 
pairs  of  sheets,  four  pairs  of  blankets,  three  pillows,  and 
three  mattresses ;  a  bed  of  velvet,  white  and  black  paled, 
with  cushions,  tapettes,  and  formez  that  belong  to  the  same 
bed,  three  pairs  of  sheets,  three  pairs  of  blankets,  three  pil- 
lows, and  three  mattresses;  a  bed  of  blue  baudekyn  (the 
richest  kind  of  stuff,  the  web  being  gold  and  the  woof 
silk,  with  embroidery),  with  cushions,  tapettes  of  blue 
worsted,  the  formez  that  belong  to  the  same  bed,  four 

'3 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


pairs  of  sheets,  four  pairs  of  blankets,  four  pillows,  and 
four  mattresses ;  my  bed  of  silk,  black  and  red,  embroid- 
ered with  woodbined  flowers  or  silver,  and  all  the  costers 
and  apparel  that  belongeth  thereto,  twelve  pairs  of  sheets, 
of  the  best  cloth  that  I  have  save  Raynes,  six  pairs  of 
blankets,  and  a  pane  of  menyver;  and  my  best  black  bed 

of  silk,  with  all  the  apparel  of  a 
chamber,  of  the  best  black  tapetter 
that  I  have,  six  pairs  of  sheets," 
etc.  The  pane  of  minever  or  fur 
was  succeeded  by  the  counterpane 
(see  page  17).  Raynes  sheeting 
was  a  linen  fabric  originating  at 
Rennes.  It  will  be  noticed  in 
the  above  that  one  bed  is  called 
"Clove."  It  was  a  practice  to 
name  beds  in  the  Tudor  period ; 
for  example,  Wolsey  had  one  called 
"  Infantilege  "  and  another  called 
"  The  Sun." 

Camak  was  a  fabric,  of  silk 
and  fine  camel's-hair,  sometimes 
called  also  camoca.  Bancours  (Ger- 
man, bank  were),  a  kind  of  tapestry. 
"Green  and  red  paly"  is  the 
heraldic  term  for  vertical,  equal  alternate  stripes  of  those 
colours. 

The  heads  of  the  most  ornate  bedsteads  were  frequently 
carved.  Sometimes  grotesque  figures  were  employed  on 
each  side  to  hold  the  curtains  when  they  were  drawn  back. 
Frequently  shelves  were  placed  in  the  headboard,  an  old 
custom,  for  Chaucer  alludes  to  them  when,  in  speaking  of 


l8xH  CENTURY  WINDSOR 
ARMCHAIR 
Birch  ;  the  back  is  formed  by  a 
curved  top  rail,  a  curved  central  panel, 
two  straight  pieces  and  spindle-shaped 
bars.  The  flat  arm  rail  is  supported  by 
four  bars  on  each  side.  Cabriole-shaped 
legs.  Lent  by  C.  H.  Talbot,  Lacock 
Abbey. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  studious  taste  of  the  scholar  in  The  Gierke's  Ta/e, 
he  says  : 

"  For  him  was  leber  ban  at  his  beddes  bed, 
A  twenty  bokes  clothed  in  black  or  red.''' 

On  this  narrow  shelf  were  placed  medicine  bottles, 
books,  and  candlesticks,  and  occasionally  a  secret  cupboard. 
In  some  cases  these  cupboards  contained  a  shrine.  Reli- 
gious sentiment  was  always  bestowed  upon  the  bed  in 
mediaeval  days,  for  not  only  were  angels  and  cherubs  dis- 
posed about  the  canopy  or  tester  and  the  carvings  Biblical 
or  allegorical,  but  people  taught  their  children  this  rhyme: 

"  Matthew,  A/ark,  Luke,  and  'John, 
Bless  the  bed  that  I  lie  on  ; 
Four  corners  to  my  bed, 
Four  angels  round  my  head; 
God  within,  God  without, 
Blessed  Jesu  all  about.'" 

Another  version  is  as  follows  : 

"  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  and  'John, 
Bless  the  bed  that  I  sleep  on, 
Two  angels  at  my  head, 
Four  angels  round  my  bed ; 
Two  to  watch  and  two  to  pray, 
And  two  to  carry  my  soul  away." 

Sometimes  the  central  panel  of  the  bedstead  had  a 
secret  spring  so  that  it  could  be  used  as  a  means  of  escape 
into  the  adjoining  chamber  or  into  a  secret  passage.  Also 
cupboards  were  sometimes  concealed  artfully  in  the  bases 
of  the  footposts,  which  were  often  ten  or  fourteen  inches 
square. 

The  "  sixteen-post "  bedstead  had  five  small  posts  on 
the  two  footposts,  which  count  as  twelve,  and  the  two 
headposts  as  two  each. 

15 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  famous  "  Great  Bed  of  Ware,"  still  in  existence,  is 
one  of  these.  This  is  seven  feet  six  inches  high,  ten  feet 
nine  inches  long,  and  ten  feet  nine  inches  wide. 

In  olden  times  the 
mattresses  of  the  beds 
rested  upon  ropes,  which 
were  laced  from  side  to 
side,  and  these  ropes  were 
in  time  succeeded  by  a 
"sacking  bottom"  that 
could  be  stretched  as 
tightly  as  was  needed. 

These  beds,  in  a  more 
or  less  elaborate  form, 
still  existed  during  the 
seventeenth  century,  and 
our  forefathers  in  the 
Southern  States  regarded 
them  with  great  affec- 
tion. 

We  know  that  the 
wealthy  English  planters 
of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia set  quite  as  much 
store  by  their  beds  as 
they  did  at  home.  We 
have  evidence  of  this  in 
the  wills,  as  well  as  in  the  prices  at  which  these  articles  of 
furniture  were  appraised. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  beds  were  quite  luxurious,  and, 
in  families  who  were  at  all  comfortably  situated,  the  cur- 
tains and  valance   always   appear.      Against   the  strong 


CHAIR  OF  WALNUT 
(The  back  is  composed  of  two  rows  of  arcades,  and 
the  legs  are  baluster-shaped.     Flemish;   dated  1678. 
From  original  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum.) 


AN  OLD  MIRROR 

Glass  in  oak  frame  ivith  car-ved  scroll  outline  and  narro-i-v  bands  inlaid  ivith  small  squares  of  -wood, 
alternately  light  and  dark.     The  uprights  and  feet  of  the  stand  are  baluster-shaped.  English. 
The  frame  dated  160J,  but  the  glass  nineteenth  century.     Height  ift.%l/2  in.,  Width,  24^  in. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


draughts  the  valance,  derived  from  the  French  avaler,  to 
let  down,  was  always  of  the  same  material  as  the  curtains. 
Bright  colours  were  preferred  to  white.  The  favourite 
materials  were :  drugget,  a  cloth  of  wool,  or  wool  mixed 
with  silk;  serge,  another  woolen  cloth,  frequently  scarlet 
in  hue;  green  and  flowered  Kitterminster,  or  Kiddermin- 
ster ;  coarse  linsey-woolsey  ;  and  dimity,  a  stout  linen  cloth, 
originally  made  at  Damietta,  interwoven  with  patterns. 

Another  material  is  darnick  (see  inventory  of  Nicholas 
Wyatt,  page  60).  This  was  a  coarse  kind  of  damask,  origi- 
nally made  at  Dorneck  (the  Dutch  name  forTournay).  It  is 
also  applied  to  certain  kinds  of  table  linen,  and  "silke  dor- 
nex"  also  occurs.  Perpetuana  was  a  woolen  fabric  that 
received  its  name  because  of  its  durable  qualities.  Ben 
Jonson  mentions  it  in  Cynthia  s  Revels  (1  601),  and  Dekker 
in  Satiromastix  (1602).  Calico  was  originally  a  somewhat 
coarse  cotton  fabric.  As  we  know,  it  took  its  name  from 
Calicut  in  India,  where  it  was  first  manufactured.  We 
find  many  examples  of  calico  curtains  that  were  printed 
with  variously  coloured  floral  and  other  designs. 

Before  finishing  with  the  bed,  we  may  mention  that 
the  "counterpoint,"  or  "counterpane,"  was  so  called  from 
its  being  worked  in  square  or  diamond-shaped  figures. 
Shaw  says  that  the  pane  of  minever  or  fur  was  succeeded 
by  the  counterpane,  i.  e.,  one  that  was  co?itrepoitite,  or 
having  knotted  threads  stitched  through.  He  derives  the 
word  from  the  Latin  pannum,  a  cloth,  a  garment,  a  rag. 

The  beds  were  sometimes  the  cause  of  dispute.  Thus 
the  Maryland  Provincial  Court  had  to  settle  one  in  1642. 
"Edward  hall  demandeth  of  mr.  John  Langford,  Esq.  500 
lb.  tob.  for  damage  for  non-pformance  of  a  bargaine  for  the 
delivery  of  a  flockbed  and  a  rug,  the  said  mr.  Langford 

17 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


denieth  the  non  performance."  The  plaintiff  got  judg- 
ment for  i  oo  pounds  tobacco,  and  the  "  Secretary  adjudged 
one  of  the  bedds  to  be  delivered  that  ffrancis  the  carpenter 
or  John  Greenwell  lay  upon  at  Pinie  neck  within  7  daies 
or  els  1  00  lb.  tob." 

The  settlers  soon  found  a  native  substitute  when  they 
could  get  neither  feathers  nor  flock.  The  latter  was  wool, 
or  ravelled  woollen  material.  In  1645,  John  Eaton, 
of  York  County,  Virginia,  died  possessed  of  an  "old 
bed  stuffed  with  cattayles  and  old  rugg,"  and  nothing  else 
in  the  nature  of  furniture.  Cat-tail  beds  and  cat-tail  mixed 
with  feathers  are  frequently  found  in  the  inventories  after 
this.  In  1685,  for  example,  we  find  John  Clayborn  with 
a  canvas  bed  filled  with  cat-tails  and  turkey  feathers. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  we  are  still  in  the  period 
prior  to  the  Renaissance,  which  is  just  about  to  dawn  in 
France.  The  prevailing  furniture  has  no  graceful  curves, 
and  depends  almost  entirely  on  carving  for  its  decorative 
effects  and  on  cushions  for  its  comfort.  Many  a  Virginian 
planter's  house  has  the  atmosphere  of  an  Elizabethan  manor 
house.  We  feel  that  English  homes  have  been  trans- 
planted, but  have  suffered  no  change.  This  will  appear 
more  clearly  from  a  consideration  of  the  household  posses- 
sions of  Thomas  Deacon,  of  York  County,  Virginia,  in  1 647. 

We  may  pause  here  to  consider  the  general  character- 
istics of  the  furniture  of  this  period,  which,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  Elizabethan  and  Jacobean. 

There  is  not  any  radical  difference  in  the  two  styles 
prevalent  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  as  an 
English  authority  thus  explains  :  "  When  the  Stuart  period 
succeeded  the  Tudor,  it  retained  the  latter's  general  charac- 
teristics, but  the  forms  of  carving  grew  heavier  and  the 

18 


SMALL  CHEST  AND  TABLE  OF  OAK 

Both  of  these  pieces  have  been  painted.     The  table  is  carved  in  high  relief  round  the  sides  of  the  framing,  with 
heavy  baluster  legs,  carved  and  filled.      Dated  1622.      The  chest  is  Dutch  in  design  and  pattern. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


execution  coarser.  The  table  legs,  baluster  newels,  and 
cabinet  supports  had  enormous  acorn-shaped  masses  in  the 
legs  in  the  middle.  The  great  hall  tables,  instead  of  being 
moveable  on  trestles,  became  of  unwieldy  size  and  weight. 
The  scroll-work  had  been  bold  but  light,  and  the  general 
surface  of  important  mouldings  or  dividing  members  not 
cut  up  by  the  ornamentation.  The  panels  were  generally 
covered  with  graceful  figure  subjects,  commonly  Biblical. 
As  the  years  advanced  into  the  seventeenth  century,  Flem- 
ish work  became  bigger  and  less  refined.  Diamond-shaped 
panels  were  superimposed  on  square  ones,  turned  work  was 
split  and  laid  on,  drop  ornaments  were  added  below  tables, 
and  from  the  centres  of  the  arches  of  arched  panels — all 
unnecessary  additions  and  encumbrances.  The  Jacobean 
style  had  borrowed  its  style  of  carving  from  the  Flemish. 
The  Flemings  and  the  Dutch  had  long  imported  wood- 
work into  England,  and  to  this  commerce  we  may  trace 
the  greater  likeness  between  the  late  Flemish  Renaissance 
carving  and  corresponding  English  woodwork  than  between 
the  English  and  the  French.  Though  allied  to  the  Flem- 
ish, Dutch  designs  in  furniture  were  swelled  out  into 
enormous  proportions."* 

One  of  the  patterns  characteristic  of  the  period  is  the 
"  interlaced  strapwork."  This  is  made  by  sinking  the 
groundwork  a  quarter  of  an  inch  below  the  surface.  Fre- 
quently this  strapwork  is  used  to  encircle  the  coat-of-arms, 
which  the  Elizabethan  carvers  were  fond  of  introducing  on 
bed,  chest,  cabinet,  chair,  and,  in  short,  wherever  an  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded. 

In  almost  every  case,  hammered  iron  was  used  for  the 
furniture-mounts,  i.  e.,  lock-plates,  hinges,  and  handles. 

*W.  H.  Pollen. 

19 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Not  only  are  these  hints 
as  to  the  general  appearance 
of  the  Elizabethan  and  Jacob- 
ean furniture,  but  the  knobs, 
and  bosses,  and  panels,  cut 
in  the  shape  of  diamonds 
and  lozenges,  suggest  the  art 
of  the  lapidary  in  their  facet- 
like effects,  and  the  constant 
use  of  the  table-cut  facet  and 
the  symmetrical  arrange- 
ment of  the  ornaments  are 
not  unlike  the  work  pro- 
duced by  the  tailors  and 
dressmakers  of  the  period  in 
gowns  and  doublets. 

However,  in  England, 
during  the  reign  of  Charles 
II  and  James  II  (1660— 
1690),  although  French  fur- 
niture was  being  sent  across 
the  Channel,  the  carved  oak 
furniture  still  lingered,  es- 
pecially in  country  houses, 
17TH  century  chair  of  oak       where   fine   specimens  may 

(The  panels  of  the  back  are  carved  with  floral 

ornament  and  the  arms  of  Thomas  Wentworth,    be  seen  to-day. 

first  Earl  of  Strafford.     From  the  original  in  the  .  1  •  i 

south  Kensington  Museum. )  "The  material  of  which 

the  old  furniture  was  constructed,"  says  William  Bliss 
Sanders,*  "  was,  almost  without  exception,  good  English 
oak,  than  which  few  woods  offer  greater  advantages  to 


*  Examples  of  Cawed  Oak  IVoodiuork  in  the  Houses  and  Furniture  of  the  Six- 
teenth and  Seventeenth  Centuries  (London,  1883). 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  cabinet  maker,  from  the  beauty  of  its  colour  and 
markings,  its  suitability  for  most  domestic  purposes,  and 
its  strength  and  durability.  Nor  was  any  labour  or  ex- 
pense spared  by  our  ancestors  in  giving  to  the  English 
wood  the  full  advantage  of  its  natural  good  qualities. 
Instead  of  sawing  the  timber  required  for  paneling  into 
thin  parallel  pieces  (as  is  now  done  with  the  view  of 
saving  the  timber),  it  was  the  old  custom  to  rive  the 
wood  used  for  this  purpose.  This  made  it  impossible  to 
use  any  but  the  best  parts  of  the  tree,  viz.:  that  portion 
of  it  which  grew  between  the  ground  and  the  commencement 
of  its  branches.  After  the  knots  began  to  appear — which, 
as  the  feeders  of  the  branches,  follow  their  direction  to 
the  heart  of  the  tree — the  planks  could  no  longer  be  riven. 
Evidence  of  the  custom  of  riving  the  wood  may  be  found 
in  the  woodwork  of  most  old  buildings,  where  the  panels 
may  often  be  seen  inserted  in  the  framing  in  the  wedge- 
like form  in  which  they  were  riven.  In  these  cases,  a 
thick  shaving  was  cut  off"  the  thicker  edge  of  the  panel  to 
make  it  thin  enough  to  fit  into  a  narrow  groove  in  the 
framing  formed  to  receive  it — one  side  of  the  panel  being 
wrought  fair,  and  the  other  generally  left  rough,  as  riven. 
A  certain  quantity  of  foreign  oak  was  also  imported  for 
cabinet-work  at  this  time,  but  this  was  chiefly  for  the  use 
of  the  wealthier  classes,  and  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
oak  used  in  the  houses  of  the  country  squires  and  well-to- 
do  yeomen  was  cut  from  trees  of  English  growth.  Many 
of  the  larger  pieces  of  furniture,  indeed,  were  not  unfre- 
quently  put  together  in  the  rooms  they  were  destined  to 
occupy,  and  constructed  of  oak  grown  upon  the  estate  to 
which  the  house  belonged." 

And  now  let  us  see  what  Thomas  Deacon  owned. 


2  1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


His  house  seems  to  have  contained  only  two  rooms, 
though  he  was  by  no  means  poor. 

In  the  Hall. 

lb.  tob. 

One  long  framed  table  and  forme  and  a  stript 

Carpet,  ......  200 

One  short  framed  table  and  one  low  forme 
and  carpet,  one  old  cort  cubbert  and  small 
carpett,  .        .        .        .        .  .100 

One  long  wainscott  settle  a  wainscott  cheare 
an  old  turned  couch  4  old  joynt  stools  and 
trundle  bedstead,    .....  200 

In  the  Chamber. 

One  frame  table  and  carpet,  a  framed  couch 
and  old  cort  cubbert  and  a  carpet  and  a 
very  old  chair,        .....  200 

Four  old  chests,  2  old  trunks  5  old  cases  and 

2  small  boxes,        .....  200 

Two  feather  beds  and  appurtenances  incld 

curtains  and  vallence,      ....  500 

2  old  bedsteads  3  old  certains  and  vallence 
one  couch  flock  bed  another  couch  bed  of 
cattails  and  two  old  coverings,  a  frame  table 
and  form,      .        .        .        .        .  -35° 

(dishes,  plates,  spoons,  plate,  &c.)       .        .  400 

(Cooking  utensils,  etc.)       ....  900 

(pans,  kettles,  andirons,  tools,  etc.)      .        .  1000 

The  court  cupboard  mentioned  in  the  above  inventory 
and  long  used  in  England  was  a  kind  of  sideboard  or  cabi- 
net, composed  of  light,  movable  shelves.  Plate  was  gen- 
erally displayed  upon  it.  We  read  in  Romeo  and  Juliet 
(1578)  :  "Remove  the  court  cupboard,  look  to  the  plate;" 
in  Chapman's  Mons.  D' Olive  (1606):  "Here  shall  stand 
my  court  cupboard  with  its  furniture  of  plate;"  and  in 


BUTTER  CUPBOARD  OF  OAK 

In  tivo  parts.     The  upper  portion  has  tivo  doors  di  vided  by  a  framed  panel.      The  doors  and  framing  at 
incised  with  conventional  designs.     At  the  sides  there  are  perforations  to  admit  air  to  the  inside  of  the 
cupboard.     The  lower  part  of  the  cupboard  is  also  car  ved.     About  1620. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Cogan's  translation  of  Pinto's  Travels,  xxiii  (1653): 
"Three  court  cupboards  placed,  upon  the  which  was  a 
great  deal  of  tine  pourcelain."  Sometimes  these  court 
cupboards  were  ornamented  with  carvings  in  low  relief, 
and  we  find  Corbet  describ- 
ing a  man  "  with  a  lean 
visage,  like  a  carved  face 
on  a  court  cupboard." 

The  "  wainscott  settle  " 
and  "  cheare "  were  evi- 
dently of  oak,  the  name, 
according  to  Skeat,  being 
derived  from  the  Low 
Danish  wagenscliot,  "  the 
best  kind  of  oak-wood, 
well-grained  and  without 
knots."  The  same  au- 
thority tells  us  that 
"wainscot  in  the  building 
trade  is  applied  to  the  best 
kind  of  oak  timber  only, 
used  for  panelling  because 
it  would  not  4  cast '  or 
warp." 

That  wainscot  was  ap- 
plied to  the  wood  rather  than  to  the  panelling  we  learn 
from  Harrison's  Historicall  Description  of  the  Hand  of 
Britaine,  prefixed  to  Holinshed's  Chronicles  (1587),  where 
he  says  that  the  oak  grown  in  Bardfield  Park,  Essex, 
"is  the  finest  for  joiners'  craft,  for  oftimes  have  I 
scene  of  their  works  made  of  that  oke  so  fine  and 
fair    as  most   of   the   wainscot    that   is   brought  hither 


I5TH  CENTURY  CHAIR 
Armchair  of  walnut  wood. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


out  of  Danske,  for  our  wainscot  is  not  made  in  Eng- 
land." 

It  will  be  noticed  in  the  above  inventory  that  several 
carpets  are  mentioned.  The  reader  must  remember  that 
these  are  not  floor-coverings,  which  were  not  in  general 
use  till  nearly  a  century  later,  but  merely  table-cloths  and 
cupboard-cloths.  Sometimes,  also,  we  find  that  the  cup- 
board was  covered  by  a  cushion.  We  learn  from  an  old 
authority  that  the  carpet,  "  a  coarse  hanging  for  a  table, 
made  of  rough  woollen  material  and  of  patches,  of  motley 
colours,"  was  known  as  early  as  1291,  while  Sir  H.  Guild- 
ford's goods  included  "a  carpet  of  green  cloth  for  a  little 
foulding  table "  (1527). 

The  carpets  in  this  country  were  of  leather  in  many 
cases ;  we  also  find  them  of  calico,  and  there  is  frequent 
reference  to  striped  and  "streked"  carpets.  Elizabeth 
Butler  bequeathed  to  her  daughter  Elizabeth  (1673)  a 
"Turkey  carpett." 

The  inventory  of  the  possessions  of  Leonard  Calvert, 
Governor  of  Maryland,  who  died  in  1  647,  will  give  a  clear 
idea  of  the  domestic  luxury  of  a  gentleman  of  importance 
in  the  infant  days  of  the  colony.  We  should  conclude 
that  he  belonged  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  even  if 
history  told  us  nothing  about  him.  (The  rug  that  gen- 
erally accompanies  the  bed  and  bolster  was  a  kind  of  heavy 
coloured  blanket.  The  colours  are  frequently  mentioned 
in  the  inventories.  It  will  be  noticed  that  his  lordship  did 
not  sleep  in  sheets.) 

in  Tob:  &  Cask. 

lb. 

Imp  13  Bookes,        .        .        .        .  .0160 

8  old  napkins,   ......  0024 

6  towells,  .....00  0018 

24 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  Tob  :  &  Cask. 

lb. 

1  lbs.  y2m  Pinns,  .....  0004 
It  y2l  of  white  thread,        ....  0008 

2  pr  of  new  Holland  socks  &  y2  ells  of 
Hollan,         ......  0018 

1  pr  Shoes,       ......  0040 

A  Table  Booke  &  a  Discipline,  .        .  0030 

iz  of  Sweet  head  powder,    ....  0004 

A  bone  Crosse,  .....  0020 

3  small  bitts  of  Syluer  plate,  .  .  .  0030 
A  small  payre  of  brasse  Compasses  and  a 

Violl  glass,    ......  0004 

A  syluer  sack  cup,     .        .        .        .  .0150 

1  old  Bed  &  bolster  &  1  old  greene  Rug,   .  0350 
1  uery  old  feather- Bed,      ....  0060 

1  old  fflock  Bed  &  Bolster  &  1  old  Red 

Rug,     .  .       .       .       .       .  0080 

1  cloake  bag,     .        .        .        .        .  .0010 

An  empty  case  wthout  bottles  &  another 

old  Case  wth  4  bottles,    .        .        .  .0010 

A  Blew  Jugge,        ■  .        .        .        .        .  0006 

A  white  box  wthout  lock  or  key,        .        .  0030 
A  red-leather-ire  case,        ....  0002 

An  old  trunk  wth  a  lock  &  key,  .        .  0040 

An  iron  Pott,    ......  0050 

5  old  Pewter  dishes  1  bason  5  plates,  .  0150 

12  pewter  spoones,    .....  0024 

A  Joyned  Table,  2  chayres,  &  a  forme,       .  0200 
An  old  brasse  kettle,  .        .        .  .0100 

A  gold  Reliquary  case,       .        .        .  .0150 

A  uery  little  Trunck,         ....  0020 

A  great  old  square  chest,    ....  0030 

A  kneeling  desk  &  a  picture  of  Paules,  .  0050 
An  old  frame  of  a  chayre,  2  combs,  &  a  hatt 

brush,    .......  0022 

one  Rugge,       ......  0050 

*5 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  Tob  :  &  Cask. 

lb. 

Tools,  arms,  nails,  horses,  harness,  sugar  and 
tobacco  in  addition,  and  a  large  howse  wth 
3  Mannors  belonging  to  it  att  Pyney  neck,  7000 

A  large  framd  howse,  wth  100  Acres  of  Town 

Land,    .......  4000 

Amounting  to  25,494  in  all. 

Though  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  most  of  the  gentry 
brought  no  furniture  with  them  originally,  we  have  evi- 
dence that  as  soon  as  they  had  built  a  suitable  house  on 
their  plantation  they  imported  from  England  the  things 
they  were  accustomed  to  have  about  them  at  home.  Pory 
bears  witness  that  it  was  possible  to  get  rich  quickly  in 
Virginia  as  early  as  161 7.  "The  Governor  here  [George 
Yeardley]  who  at  his  first  coming,  besides  a  great  deal  of 
worth  in  his  person,  brought  only  his  sword  with  him, 
was  at  his  late  being  in  London  together  with  his  lady, 
out  of  his  mere  gettings  here,  able  to  disburse  very  near 
three  thousand  pounds  to  furnish  him  with  the  voyage." 
He  also  shows  us  that  fashion  was  by  no  means  neglected 
or  despised :  "  We  are  not  the  veriest  beggars  in  the  world. 
One  cow-keeper  here  in  James  City  on  Sunday  goes 
accoutred  in  fresh  flaming  silk,  and  a  wife  of  one  that  in 
England  had  professed  the  black  art,  not  of  a  scholar  but 
of  a  collier  of  Croydon,  wears  her  rough  beaver  hat  with 
a  fair  pearl  hat-band  and  a  silken  suit  thereto  correspon- 
dent." 

Some  of  the  planters  came  here  to  try  the  country,  and 
when  they  liked  it  and  prospered  they  then  brought  over 
their  household  goods  and  settled  permanently.     Some  had 

z6 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


estates  in  both  countries  and  returned  to  die  at  home, 
while  others  died  here  possessed  of  estates  in  England. 
When  we  read  of  the  length,  dangers  and  miseries  of  the 
Atlantic  passage  at  that  day  we  are  astonished  to  find  that 
it  was  by  no  means  an 
uncommon  thing  for  a 
planter  to  make  several 
visits  to  England.  In 
spite  of  the  wretched 
accommodations  on 
board,  the  passage  was 
often  very  expensive. 
In  1659  we  find:  "To 
Mr.  John  Whirken 
who  went  over  in  the 
'Thomas  and  Ann  ship 
£22-1  1-0."  It  must 
also  be  remembered 
that  the  purchasing 
power  of  money  was 
about  five  times  what 
it  is  now.  It  would 
naturally  be  the  better 
class  of  furniture  that 

the  planter  would  bring  with  him  on  his  return.  In 
his  absence  he  left  his  plantation  in  charge  of  an  agent, 
and  sometimes  he  did  not  find  things  as  he  left 
them.  There  were  turbulent  spirits  in  the  colony. 
The  court  records  of  March  22,  1652,  give  an  instance 
of  this : 

"The  humble  complaint  of  Thomas  Cornwallis,  Esq., — 
Showeth 


I7TH  CENTURY  CHAIR 

( Carved  walnut  wood,  a  child's  folding  chair.  Flemish. 
About  1660.     Height,  2  ft.  I  in.;  width,  14.3^  in.) 


*7 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

"That  whereas  it  is  well  knowne  that  the  Complt  was 
one  of  the  Chiefe  and  first  Adventurers  for  the  planting  of 
this  Province,  and  therein  besides  the  danger  and  hazard  of 
his  life  and  health,  Exhausted  a  Great  part  of  his  Estate  not 
only  in  the  first  Expedition,  but  also  in  yearly  Supplyes  of 
Servants  and  Goods  for  the  Support  of  himself  and  this 
then  Infant  Collony  by  which  and  God's  Blessing  upon 
his  Endeavours,  he  had  acquired  a  Settled  and  Comfortable 
Subsistence  haveing  a  Competent  Dwelling  house  furnished 
with  plate,  Linnen,  hangings,  beding,  brass,  pewter  and  all 
manner  of  Household  Stuff  worth  at  the  least  a  thousand 
pounds,  about  twenty  Servants;  at  least  a  hundred  Neat 
Cattell,  a  Great  Stock  of  Swine  and  Goats,  some  Sheep  and 
horses,  a  new  pinnace  about  twenty  tunn  well  rigged  and 
fitted,  besides  a  New  Shallop  and  other  Small  boates,  with 
divers  debts  for  Goods  Sold  to  the  quantity  of  neare  A 
Hundred  thousand  weight  of  Tobacco,  all  which  at  his 
going  for  England  in  or  about  April  1644  he  left  and 
deposited  in  the  care  of  his  Attorney  Cuthbert  ffenwick, 
Gent,  who  in  or  about  ffebruary  following  comeing  from 
the  Ship  of  Richard  'Ingle  Marriner,  was,  as  Soon  as  he 
Came  ashore,  Treacherously  and  illegally  Surprized  by  the 
said  John  Sturman  and  others,  and  Carryed  aboard  the  said 
Ingles  Ship,  and  there  detained  and  compelled  to  deliver 
the  Complts  house,  and  the  rest  of  the  premisses  into  the 
possession  of  Divers  ill  disposed  persons  whereof  the  Said 
Tho.  and  John  Sturman  and  Wm.  Hardwick  were  three 
of  the  Chiefe,  who  being  Soe  unlawfully  possest  of  the 
Said  house,  and  the  premisses,  plundered  and  Carryed  away 
all  things  in  It,  pulled  down  and  burnt  the  pales  about  it, 
killed  and  destroyed  all  the  Swine  and  Goates,  and  killed 
or  mismarked  almost  all  the  Cattle,  tooke  or  dispersed  all 

28 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  Servants,  Carryed  away  a  great  quantity  of  Sawn  Boards 
from  the  pitts,  and  ript  up  Some  floors  of  the  house.  And 
having  by  the  Violent  and  unlawfull  Courses,  forst  away 
my  said  Attorney,  the  said  Thomas  and  John  Sturman 
possest  themselves  of  the  Complts  house  as  theire  owne, 
dwelt  in  it  soe  long  as  they  please,  and  at  their  departing 
tooke  the  locks  from  the  doors,  and  the  glass  from  the 
windowes,  and  in  fine  ruined  his  whole  Estate  to  the  dam- 
age of  the  Complt  at  least  two  or  three  thousand  pounds 
for  which  he  humbly  craves,"  etc. 

This  gives  us  an  interesting  glimpse  of  a  wealthy  plan- 
ter's house.  The  above  Thomas  Cornwallis  finally  re- 
turned to  England  and  died  there. 

We  have  now  completed  our  rapid  survey  of  the  houses 
and  their  contents  during  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  colony  had  become  prosperous  and  immigra- 
tion was  greatly  stimulated.  As  the  author  of  Leah  and 
Rachel  (1656)  maintains,  Virginia  and  Maryland  were 
pleasant  in  many  ways,  one  of  which  was  : 

"  Pleasant  in  their  building,  which  although  for  most 
part  they  are  but  one  story  beside  the  loft  and  built  of  wood, 
yet  contrived  so  delightful  that  your  ordinary  houses  in 
England  are  not  so  handsome,  for  usually  the  rooms  are 
large,  daubed  and  whitelimed,  glazed  and  flowered,  and  if 
not  glazed  windows,  shutters  that  are  made  very  pretty  and 
convenient."  Glass  was  scarce  and  costly.  As  we  have 
just  seen,  Ingle's  piratical  crew  stripped  Mr.  Cornwallis's 
windows  of  their  panes  and  we  have  a  means  of  arriving 
at  the  actual  value  since  in  the  hall  of  Mr.  William 
Hughes,  in  1661,  there  was  "ten  paine  of  glass  abt.  23^ 
foot  "  appraised  at  twelve  shillings. 

The  above  quotation  from  Leah  and  Rachel  of  course 

29 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


refers  to  the  humbler  abodes.  The  richer  planters'  houses, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  larger  and  better  furnished.  Every 
plantation  became  a  little  settlement  with  its  wharf,  at 
which  ships  loaded  and  discharged  direct  from  abroad. 
Clothing,  furniture  and  all  kinds  of  merchandise  were  im- 
ported direct  and  paid  for  in  the  tobacco  raised  on  the  spot. 
The  bountiful  rivers  of  Virginia  facilitated  this  system. 

"  No  country  in  the  world  can  be  more  curiously  wa- 
tered. .  .  .  The  great  number  of  rivers  and  the  thinness 
of  inhabitants  distract  and  disperse  a  trade.  So  that  all 
ships  in  general  gather  each  their  loading  up  and  down  an 
hundred  miles  distant ;  and  the  best  of  trade  that  can  be 
driven  is  only  a  sort  of  Scotch  peddling  ;  for  they  must 
carry  all  sorts  of  truck  that  trade  thither  having  one  com- 
modity to  pass  off  another.'"  * 

The  orders  sent  by  the  planters  to  their  agents  in  Eng- 
land were  many  and  various.  The  letters  of  William 
Fitzhugh  and  William  Byrd  afford  many  examples.  We 
find  the  former  writing  for  a  new  feather  bed  with  curtains 
and  valance  and  an  old  one  as  well,  since  he  had  heard 
that  the  new  ones  were  often  full  of  dust.  In  July,  1687, 
he  writes  to  his  brother-in-law  in  London  : 

"  Please  to  mind  the  things  sent  for  by  you,  as  also 
add  a  large  looking-glass  with  an  olive  wood  frame  and  a 
pewter  .cistern."  Again,  in  August,  he  writes  to  his 
brother  : 

"  I  heartily  thank  your  mindfull  care  and  your  Lady's 
great  kindness  in  those  welcome  glasses  which  came  well 
and  safe  to  hand." 

William  Fitzhugh,  under  date  of  April  22,  1686,  de- 
scribes his  estate  in  the  following  letter  : 

*  Clayton's  Virginia  (1688). 

30 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"  Doctr.  Ralph  Smith  :  In  order  to  the  Exchange  you 
promised  to  make  for  me  and  I  desire  you  to  proceed 
therein  to  say  to  the  Exchange  an  Estate  of  Inheri- 
tance in  land  there  of  two  or  three  hundred  pound  a 
year,  or  in  houses  in  any  town  of  three  or  four  hundred 
pound  a  year,  I  shall  be  something  particular  in  the  relation 
of  my  concerns  here  that  is  to  go  in  return  thereof.  At 
first  the  Plantation  where  I  now  live  contains  a  thousand 
acres,  at  least  700  acres  of  it  being  rich  thicket,  the  re- 
mainder good,  hearty  plantable  land,  without  any  waste 
either  by  marshes  or  great  swamps  the  commodiousness, 
conveniency  and  pleasantness  yourself  well  knows,  upon 
it  there  is  three-quarters  well  furnished  with  all  ne- 
cessary houses;  grounds  and  fencing,  together  with  a 
choice  crew  of  negro's  at  each  plantation,  most  of  them 
this  country  born,  the  remainder  as  likely  as  most  in 
Virginia,  there  being  twenty-nine  in  all,  with  stocks  of 
cattle  and  hogs  at  each  quarter,  upon  the  same  land  is 
my  own  Dwelling  house  furnished  with  all  accommoda- 
tions for  a  comfortable  and  gentile  living,  as  a  very  good 
dwelling  house  with  rooms  in  it,  four  of  the  best  of  them 
hung  and  nine  of  them  plentifully  furnished  with  all  things 
necessary  and  convenient,  and  all  houses  for  use  furnished 
with  brick  chimneys,  four  good  Cellars,  a  Dairy,  Dovecot, 
Stable,  Barn,  Henhouse,  Kitchen,  and  all  other  conveni- 
encys  and  all  in  a  manner  new,  a  large  Orchard  of  about 
2,500  Aple  trees  most  grafted,  well  fenced  with  a  Locust 
fence,  which  is  as  durable  as  most  brick  walls,  a  Garden,  a 
hundred  foot  square,  well  pailed  in,  a  Yeard  wherein  is 
most  of  the  foresaid  necessary  houses,  pallizado'd  in  with 
locust  Puncheons,  which  is  as  good  as  if  it  were  walled  in 
and  more  lasting  than  any  of  our  bricks,  together  with  a 

31 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


good  stock  of  Cattle,  hogs,  horses,  mares,  sheep,  etc.,  and 
necessary  servants  belonging  to  it,  for  the  supply  and  sup- 
port thereof.  About  a  mile  and  half  distance  a  good 
water  Grist  miln,  whose  tole  I  find  sufficient  to  find  my 
own  family  with  wheat  and  Indian  corn,  for  our  necessitys 
and  occasions  up  the  River  in  this  country  three  tracts  of 
land  more,  one  of  them  contains  21,996  acres,  another  500 
acres,  and  one  other  1,000  acres,  all  good,  convenient  and 
commodious  Seats,  and  wch  in  a  few  years  will  yield  a  con- 
siderable annual  Income.  A  stock  of  Tob°  with  the  crops 
and  good  debts  lying  out  of  about  250,000  lb.  beside  suffi- 
cient of  almost  all  sorts  of  goods"  to  supply  the  familys  and 
the  Quarter's  occasion  for  two  if  not  three  years." 

On  June  28,  1684,  he  sends  the  following  order: 

"  Mr.  John  Cooper:  I  have  occasion  for  two  pair  of  small  And- 
irons for  Chamber  Chimneys,  one  pair  of  brass  ones  with  fire  shovel 
and  tongs,  and  one  pair  of  iron  ones  well  glazed  ;  with  fire  shovel, 
and  tongs,  also  two  indifferent  large  Iron  backs  for  Chimneys  wch  I 
would  have  you  send  me  by  the  first  ships.  Yo'r  WfF." 

In  1698,  he  orders  a  table,  a  case  of  drawers,  a  looking- 
glass  and  two  leather  carpets.     In  1688,  he  writes: 

"  I  have  in  my  two  former  given  you  an  account  of 
money  sent  to  Mr.  Cooper  with  relation  to  laying  out  the 
same  which  now  upon  second  thought  I  wholly  design  for 
an  additional  supply  for  now  my  building  finished,  my 
plantations  well  settled  and  largely  stocked  with  slaves, 
having  added  about  five  more  than  when  I  gave  you  an 
account  thereof  and  purchased  at  least  three  plantations 
more  than  is  there  mentioned  and  being  sufficiently  stored 
with  goods  of  all  sorts  I  esteem  it  as  well  politic  as  reput- 
able to  furnish  myself  with  an  handsome  cupboard  of  plate 
which  gives  myself  the  present  use  and  credit,  is  a  sure 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


friend  at  a  dead  lift  without  much  loss,  or  is  a  certain  por- 
tion for  a  child  after  my  dicease,  and  therefore  last  year  I 
had  a  small  quantity  from  you  and  about  a  like  quantity 
from  Bristol  and  did  expect  some  from  Plymouth  but  that 
miscarried." 

He  wants  it  strong  and  plain  as  being  less  subject  to 
bruise. 

Colonel  William  Byrd  settled  at  Westovcr  on  the 
James  River,  and  while  his  house  was  in  course  of  con- 
struction in  1685  he  wrote  to  England  for  a  bedstead,  bed 
and  hangings,  a  looking-glass,  a  small  and  medium-sized 
oval  table  and  twelve  Russia  leather  chairs. 

Colonel  Fitzhugh  writes  an  interesting  letter  in  January, 
1687,  to  the  Hon.  Nicholas  Spencer.  It  gives  his  views 
on  the  question  of  housebuilding  and  will  bear  quoting. 

"  My  experience  in  concerns  of  this  country,  especially 
in  building  and  settling  plantations,  prompts  me  to  offer 
my  advice,  having  had  sufficient  trial  in  those  affairs  at  the 
expense  of  almost  300,000  pounds  of  Tob°.  I  shall  pro- 
pose no  other  than  what  I  would  follow  myself,  that  is  if 
you  design  this  land  to  settle,  a  child  of  your  own  or  near 
kinsman,  tor  whom  it  is  supposed  you  would  build  a  very 
good  house,  not  only  tor  their  comfortable  but  their  credit- 
able accommodations;  the  best  methods  to  be  pursued 
therein  is  to  get  a  carpenter  and  Bricklayer  servants,  and  send 
them  in  here  to  serve  4  or  five  years,  in  which  time  of 
their  service  they  might  reasonably  build  a  substantial  good 
house  at  least,  if  not  brick  walls  and  well  plaster'd,  &  earn 
money  enough  besides,  in  their  said  time,  at  spare  times 
from  your  work,  having  so  long  a  time  to  do  it  in,  as 
would  purchase  plank  nails  and  other  materials,  and  supply 
them  necessarys  during  their  servitude,  or  if  you  design  to 

33 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


settle  tenants  on  it,  as  your  letter  purports,  in  my  opinion 
its  needless  for  you  to  be  at  the  charge  of  building  for 
their  accommodation,  if  you  intend  any  time,  if  it  is  but 
seven  years,  for  there's  several  that  may  be  found  that  for  a 
seven  years'  Lease,  will  build  themselves  a  convenient  dwell- 
ing, &  other  necessary  houses,  and  be  obliged  at  the  expi- 
ration of  their  time  to  leave  all  in  good  repair,  but  if  you 
at  your  own  charge  should  build  an  ordinary  Virginia  house 
it  will  be  some  charge  and  no  profit.  .  .  But  should  not  ad- 
vise to  build  either  a  great  or  English  framed  house,  for  la- 
bour is  so  intolerably  dear  &  workmen  so  idle,  and  negli- 
gent that  the  building  of  a  good  house  to  you  there  will 
seem  insupportable,  for  this  I  can  assure  you  when  I  built 
my  own  house  and  agreed  as  cheap  as  I  could  with  work- 
men &  as  carefully  and  as  diligently  took  care  that  they 
followed  their  work,  notwithstanding  we  have  timber  for 
nothing,  but  felling  and  getting  in  place,  the  frame  of  my 
house  stood  me  in  more  money  in  Tob°  @'  8'  sh.p.Cwt. 
than  a  frame  of  the  same  dimensions  would  cost  in  London 
by  a  third  at  least." 

A  good  example  of  the  household  furniture  in  York 
County  in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  is  that  of 
Captain  Stephen  Gill,  August  2,  1653,  whose  estate  was 
appraised  by  Mr.  F.  Hy.  Lee  et  al  at  33,559  pounds  to- 
bacco, including  seven  servants  valued  at  3,760  pounds. 

In  the  Hall  there  was  a  feather  bed  and  bolster, 
flock  do,  blanket,  bedstead,  pair  of  striped  curtains 
and  valance  ;  two  couches  with  flock  beds,  tour  fea- 
ther pillows  and  two  coverlets  ;  a  hammock  ;  a 
table  and  "carpet,"  two  "chaises,"  two  stools  covered 
with  striped  stuff,  and  five  cushions  ;  a  small  side 
table  and  striped  carpet,  a  small  pewter  cistern  and 
bason,  and  a  bason  stoole;  a  "livery  cubbard  "  with 

34 


BEDSTEAD  WITH  TESTER  AND  HANGINGS 

The  woodwork  o)  about  1620-30 ;   the  upholstery  probably  fifty  years 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


glasses  and  earthenware  upon  it,  a  close  stool  and 
pan,  an  ebony  looking-glass ;  bellows,  snuffers, 
dogs,  table,  fire  shovel,  tongs,  small  dark  lantern  and 
chafing-dish,  a  drum  and  sticks,  a  parcell  of  old  pic- 
tures, an  old  target ;  firearms;  steelyards  and  a  "par- 
cell  of  old  books";  two  small  chests,  a  trunk  and  a 
little  box  ;  an  old  "  Phisick  chest  with  druggs  in,"  etc. 
and  a  "  small  box  with  Phisick  ";  two  old  plaister 
boxes, one  old  "salvatorie,"  some  instruments,  a  razor, 
six  lancets,  two  pairs  of  scissors  and  three  tobacco 
tongs ;  two  swords  and  a  leather  belt ;  a  sack,  a 
drum  and  some  silver;  14  doz.  gold  and  silver 
breast  buttons,  3  doz.  silk  points,  a  parcel  of  silk 
breast  buttons,  a  parcel  of  colored  silk,  a  parcel  of 
ribbon,  a  pair  of  gloves  and  three  brushes. 

In  the  Chamber  we  find  an  old  bedstead  with 
"vallance"  curtains,  feather  bed,  blanket,  rug  and 
pillows;  a  bedstead  with  fringed  "vallance,"  flock  bed, 
bolster  and  rug  ;  one  "  old  hamock  "  and  one  "ham- 
acka";  two  chests,  a  trunk,  box  and  desk,  all  old  ; 
one  old  melted  still,  fire-irons  and  dogs;  and  a  great 
deal  of  linen  consisting  of  bed  linen,  table  cloths, 
and  napkins,  as  well  as  underclothing.  In  the 
"  Inner  Chamber"  there  were  two  bedsteads,  feather 
beds,  curtains  and  "vallence,"  an  old  table,  an  old 
chest,  a  new  trunk,  a  joint  stool,  a  table  basket  and 
clothing.  In  the  "Shedd"  there  was  a  small  "runlett 
honey,"  a  small  "  runlett  treele,  three  bushell  wheat, 
4lb  hops,  i6'b  soap,  ioolb  Butter,  6  old  Cases,  1  old 
low  stoole,  1  old  dripping  pan,  1  old  Tinn  Cove' 
Dish,  24  Trenchers,  and  3  old  Calk. 

In  the  "  Loaft,"  we  find  Wheat,  salt,  meal,  can- 
vas, nails,  scythes,  axes,  hoes,  reaping  hoops,  pot- 
hooks, hinges  &  Casks  amtgto  0120  tob. 

In  the  "  Kitching,"  1  Copper  Kettle,  1  old  brass 
Kettle,  i  brass  pott,  3  brass  Candlesticks,  1  brass 

35 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Skillitt,  i  small  brass  Morter  &  Pestle,  i  brass 
Skime',  i  brass  Spoone,  3  old  Iron  Potts,  1  small 
Iron  Pott,  3  Pestles,  1  ffrying  Pann,  2  Spitts,  2  pre 
of  Potthangers,  3  pre  pothookes,  and  1  Iron  Ladle, 
fflesh  hooke,  3  Tinn  Cullende",  46lb  Pewter  att  3d 
per  1  lb.  (0700  tob.),  4  Old  Porringers,  19  Pewter 
Spoons,  3  old  1  new  Chamber  Potts,  Pewter,  4  old 
Pewter  Tankards,  1  fflaggon,  2  Salt  sellers,  6  Tinn 
Candlesticks,  2  doz.  old  Trenchers,  and  2  Sifte". 

In  the  "  Milk  House"  there  are  24  Trayes  and 
one  Cheesepress,  300  stores,  boat,  sail,  live  stock,  pil- 
lion harness,  and  1  old  rugg,  30  lb.  The  seven  serv- 
ants are  valued  at  3760  lbs.,  and  his  personalty 
amounts  to  2>3->SS9  ^Ds- 

The  varied  contents  of  the  three  rooms  are  typical  of 
all  the  houses  of  the  period,  though  it  seems  strange  to  find 
accommodations  to  sleep  three  people  in  the  hall.  The 
general  hospitality  of  the  community  accounts  for  this  and 
it  is  usual  to  find  beds  in  every  room  until  the  end  of  the 
century. 

The  livery  cupboard  that  stood  in  this  hall  was  some- 
what similar  to  the  court  cupboard  already  described  on 
page  22.  It  consisted  of  three  shelves,  or  stages,  standing 
on  four  turned  legs.  The  livery  cupboard  seems  to  have 
had  a  drawer  for  the  table  linen  but  no  doors,  as  we  learn 
from  a  MS.  in  the  British  Museum  giving  the  charges 
for  the  work  of  a  joiner  in  the  early  days  of  Henry  VIII's 
reign : 

"  Ye  cobards  they  be  made  ye  facyon  of  livery  y  is 
wthout  doors." 

The  mugs  and  cups  were  hung  on  hooks  and  a  ewer 
and  basin  stood  below  the  shelves. 

The  livery  cupboard  was  for  service  or  delivery,  if  we 

36 


OAKEN  CUPBOARD 


Carved  oak ;  the  lower  part  contains  two  drawers  and  is  surmounted  by  a  cupboard  with 
receding  sides,  which  supports  the  flat  top,  also  partly  resting  on  two  spiral  columns.  On 
the  cupboard  door  is  carved  the  portrait  of  a  lady  wearing  a  ruff  and  lace  collar. 
The  cabinet  is  further  decorated  with  narrow  bands  inlaid  with  small  squares 
of  wood,  alternately  light  and  dark.      Between  the  drawers  is  an  inlaid 
tulip.     The  whole  is  supported  on  four  short  baluster  legs  with  cross- 
bars of  the  same  design.    English,  dated  "A.  D.  /6oj."  Height, 
_/  ft.  2l2  in.;   length,  j  ft.  10%  in.;  depth,  I  ft.  g)/z  in. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


may  believe  the  etymologists,  and  Comenius  in  'Janua 
(1659):  "Various  drinking-vessels  are  brought  forth  out 
of  the  cupboards  and  glass  case  and  being  rubbed  with  a 
pot  brush,  are  set  on  the  livery  cupboard." 

The  "  livery-cupboard,"  "  court-cupboard,"  "  standing- 
cupboard  "  and  "press"  were  all  very  similar  in  character. 
We  will  take  a  few  examples  from  the  inventories 
with  their  prices:  "one  old  half-headed  cupboard 
(Edward  Keene,  1646);  one  old  court-cupboard,  100  lbs. 
(Captain  E.  Roe,  1676);  one  cubboard  and  a  cort,  150 
lbs.  (G.  A.  Marshall,  1675);  a  great  cupboard,  11 00  lbs. 
(Captain  J.  Carr,  1676);  an  old  cupboard,  200  lbs.  (Cap- 
tain T.  Howell,  1676) ;  a  cupboard  with  cloth  and  cushion, 
500  lbs.,  a  side  cupboard  cloth  and  cushion,  250  lbs. 
(Nicholas  Wyatt,  1676);  a  court  cupboard,  290  lbs.  (G. 
F.  Beckwith,  1 676) ;  a  standing-cupboard  (Colonel  William 
Farrer,  1678);  an  old  cupboard,  15  lbs.  (Captain  James 
Crews,  1 68 1 ) ;  one  side  cupboard  (Will  Sargent,  1683); 
an  old  press,  80  lbs.  (Richard  Worneck,  1684);  a  'pine 
press,'  150  lbs.  (John  Milner,  1684)  ;  a  '  cubbert,'  10  shil- 
lings (M.  Bacon,  1694);  a  cubbert,  10  shillings  (N.  Bacon, 
1694);  a  cubbert,  6  shillings  (H.  Watkins,  1700)." 

It  is  very  evident  on  looking  at  the  prices  that  these 
articles  of  furniture  varied  greatly  in  size  and  ornamenta- 
tion. Some  of  them  were  undoubtedly  richly  carved  as 
in  the  specimens  existing  in  the  museums  abroad,  although 
the  inventories  are  the  only  evidence  we  have  been  able  to 
find  of  their  existence  in  the  South.  Captain  Carr's  cup- 
board, being  valued  at  nearly  $250  in  present  money,  must 
have  been  very  ornate.  In  estimating  the  value  of  tobacco 
we  are  in  difficulties,  because  it  varied  greatly  from 
year  to  year.    In  1638  tobacco  is  declared  to  be  worth 

37 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


three  pence  per  pound;  in  1639,  as  we  have  seen 
(see  page  9),  it  is  valued  at  ^3—19—12  per  hundred 
pounds,  or  three  and  one-half  times  as  much.  In 
1 640,  when  an  inventory  was  taken  of  the  estate  of 
Henry  Crawlie  (Isle  of  Kent),  "the  praysers  in  their 
consciences  think  tobacco  is  worth  per  pound"  two 
pence.  The  average  price  of  tobacco  during  the  second 
half  of  the  seventeenth  century  is  taken  at  about  two  pence 
per  pound,  and  the  value  of  money  was  about  five  times 
what  it  is  now.  It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  give  some 
idea  of  the  wealth  of  the  individual  planters,  which  in 
many  cases  certainly  justified  sumptuous  household  goods. 

It  must  also  be  remembered  that  the  various  rooms  had 
not  acquired  the  special  character  that  they  now  possess. 
It  was  a  long  time  even  in  England  before  parlour  and 
dining-room  were  distinct  apartments.  In  early  days  it 
was  customary  for  the  lords  and  ladies  to  eat  in  the  large 
hall  before  the  household,  but  gradually  it  became  a  habit 
to  screen  off  a  portion  of  the  hall  for  privacy.  Thence  it 
was  but  a  step  to  the  private  dining-room.  This  was  re- 
ceived at  first  with  disfavour ;  we  read  in  Piers  Plowman 
(fourteenth  century)  : 

1  In  the  Halle 
the  lord  ne  the  Ladye  lyketh  not  to  sytte ; 
noiu  hath  eche  syche  a  rule  to  eaten  by  himselfe 
in  a  privee  parlour." 

In  1526  the  ordinances  of  Eltham  remark  with  some 
asperity  that  "  sundrie  noblemen  and  gentlemen  and  others 
doe  much  delighte  to  dyne  in  corners  and  secrete  places." 

The  dining-room  was  not  the  one  familiar  to  us.  It 
opened  from  the  hall  and  contained  not  only  tables  and 
cupboards  but  a  bed,  chairs  and  carpets.  One  of  these  new 

38 


ARMCHAIR 

Of  about  /Ojo.     With  upholstery  cither  of  the  same  date  or  renewed  in  the  original  style. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"parlours"  in  the  reign  of  Mary 
and  Philip  contained  "a  jointed 
bedstead  "  covered  with  a  counter- 
point of  "  emegrie  work  with  iij 
cortayns  of  greene  and  red  serge, 
one  counter  and  ij  olde  coverings 
for  the  same,  ij  long  damask  sylke 
chussings,  v  sylke  chussengs,  one 
dozen  old  chusshings,  one  table, 
one  joned  forme  with  a  counter- 
point to  the  table  and  ij  trussels, 
iiij  thrown  chayres  and  vij  joned 
stools,  one  great  payre  of  andyrons, 
one  payre  of  tongs,  one  fyre  shovel 
and  a  pare  of  bellows,  and  one 
Flanders'  chest." 

ernor  of  Virginia  1 727-1 747.    From  the 
The  "  thrOWn  "   Chairs  are  Said      original  in  the  possession  of  the  Virginia 

Historical  Society,  Richmond. 

to  be  chairs  "  with  frames  of  turn- 
ery work";   the  "joint  stool"  was  usually  three-legged. 
The  chair  shown  here  is  one  of  the  earliest  forms  immedi- 
ately succeeding  the  carved  oak  period. 

A  "  dining-parlour  "  is  mentioned  in  1579  as  a  separate 
room,  but  even  this  contained  a  bed ;  and  a  "  dining  cham- 
ber" occurs  in  1639.  Parlour  is  denned  in  Minshew's 
Guide  Unto  Tongues  (1617)  as  "an  inner  room  to  dine  or 
suppe  in,"  and  the  first  mention  of  dining-room  is  found 
in  The  Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle,  Merrythought  saying : 

"  I  never  come  into  my  dining-room  but  at  eleven  and  six 
o'clock— I  found  excellent  meat  and  drink  i'  th'  table." 

It  will,  therefore,  be  appreciated  that  the  dining-room 
had  not  separated  itself  from  the  bed-chamber  and  parlour 
at  this  period  in  England,  and,  consequently,  we  shall  find 

J9 


WALNUT  CHAIR 

Belonged  to  Sir  William  Gooch,  Gov- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


all  these  rooms  uncertain  as  to  character  in  Virginia  for 
many  years.  The  parlour  hed-chamber  still  survives  in 
many  old  Southern  homes,  i.  e.,  the  chamber  situated  near 
the  parlour. 

The  "parlour,"  literally  the  place  where  people  could 
parley  in  privacy,  became  the  "  withdrawing-room,"  used 
for  conversation,  as  the  dining-room  was  used  for  feasting. 

Among  the  free  artisan  and  labouring  classes  and  poorer 
planters,  the  furniture  is  still  excessively  meagre.  Some  in- 
ventories show  none  at  all,  the  utmost  being  an  old  couch, 
a  bed,  two  or  three  old  chairs  and  a  chest  or  trunk. 

The  inventory  of  Mr.  Gyles  Mode,  of  York  County, 
Va.,  is  worth  reproducing  because  the  articles  are  valued  in 
pounds,  shillings  and  pence,  instead  of  tobacco  as  is  cus- 
tomary, and  this  is  more  satisfactory,  as  the  latter  commo- 
dity was  not  constant  in  value. 

£.  s.  d. 

I  Fetherbed  &  feather  bolster,  very  old  bed- 
tick,  i  old  green  rug  &  blanket,  i  bedstead, 
a  piece  of  serge,  green  curtains  &  vallance,  .  8-5—0 
6  Leathern  chairs,  old,  4  high,  2  low,  .  1-10-0 

1  Court  Cupboard  with  drawers,     .        .        .  5-0-0 
1  Table,  abt  7  ft,  a  form  &  green  cotton  carpet,  1-5-0 
1  Small  square  table  &  a  wicker  graining  chair 

&  carpet,  .......  0-15-0 

1  Warming  pan  &  tin  scolloped  candlestick,    .  0—6—0 
1  Pair  of  low  dogs  with  brass  tops,  one  broken 
1  Old  couch  with  old  flock  bolster  &  green 
rug,  ........  0-10-0 

1  Chest  with  lock  &  key,  •        •        •  0-12-0 

1  Looking-glass  with  black  frame,  .        .  0-12-0 

With  the  exception  of  the  bedstead,  bedding  and  hang- 
ings, the  court  cupboard  with  drawers  is  Mr.  Mode's  most 
valuable  possession  ;  in  fact,  it  is  worth  all  his  other  wooden 

40 


^4  a 


ARMCHAIR 

Oak,  with  high  back  carved  with  floral  ornament  and  "  /.  P.  1670,"  scroll  arms,  and  turned  legs 
and  crossbars.     English.     Height,  4  ft.  j  in.;  Width,  2  ft.  j  in. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


furniture  put  together,  representing  at  least  $125  in  pres- 
ent money.  It  was  undoubtedly  a  decorative  as  well  as 
useful  feature  of  his  home ;  and  we  must  credit  him  with 
distinct  aesthetic  preferences,  since  his  rugs  and  table  "  car- 
pets" were  all  green  in  hue.  This  taste  was  also  shared 
by  Colonel  Thomas  Ludlow,  showing  that  green  was  fash- 
ionable in  upholstery  in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century. 

The  estate  of  Francis  Wheeler  is  also  given  in  money 
(January  30,  1659).  Among  other  things  "in  the  cham- 
ber" we  find  "a  Virginia-made  bedstead  and  an  old-fash- 
ioned guilt  Canne,"  the  latter  valued  at  ^3-10-0  Thomas 
Bucke,  January,  1659,  in  addition  to  beds  and  other  house- 
hold stuff,  left  behind  him  "  a  striped  tablecloth  2sh,  6d,  a 
hide  couch  8sh,  a  wainscot  couch  1 5sh,  three  wainscot 
chairs  ^"i-o-o,  four  lined-back  chairs  ^2-0-0,  one  frame 
table  and  form  and  two  joint  stools  and  a  little  one  ^1-5-0." 

At  an  auction  of  the  estate  of  John  Marsh,  September 
16,  1659,  Jeremiah  Rawlins  bought  "a  powdering  tubb"; 
and  another  lot  consisted  of  "  one  small  hanging  table  and 
a  form  to  hang,  one  couch,  two  pails  and  trays."  The  in- 
ventory of  Stephen  Page's  goods,  December,  1659,  in- 
cludes "one  chafing-dish  and  one  skynn  couch,"  besides 
the  usual  bed. 

According  to  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Ludlow,  January  1,  1660, his  house  contained  "the 
Inner  Rooms,"  "  Lt.  Coll.  Ludlowes  chamber,"  "the  Hall," 
"the  Buttery,"  "the  loft,"  "the  Kitchen,"  "the  Stoare" 
and  the  "  Milke  House."  The  hall  seems  to  have  been 
furnished  best,  and,  unlike  so  many  houses  of  the  day,  con- 
tained no  bed.  In  it  was  one  long  table  and  green  cloth 
carpet,  a  chest,  one  green  couch,  two  leather  chairs,  three 

41 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


low  chairs,  one  low  stool 
and  lour  high  chairs 
with  green  cloth,  a  joint 
stool  and  short  table,  ten 
cushions,  one  pair  and- 
irons, fire  shovel  and 
tongs,  a  tin  candlestick, 
snuffers  and  a  brush: 

The  bed  during  the 
second  half  of  this  cen- 
tury still  maintained  its 
importance.  We  have 
many  records  of  the 
varied  material  with 
which  it  was  decorated. 
The  curtains  hung  from 
rods  by  hooks,  as  is  expressly  mentioned  in  the  inventory 
of  Colonel  Epes,  1678  (see  page  52).  They  seem 
always  to  have  been  accompanied  by  a  valance.  To  take 
a  few  examples  from  the  inventories,  the  curtains  are 
"striped"  (S.  Gill,  1653),  "red  perpetuana"  (E.  <  Keene, 
1646),  "green"  (F.  Mathews,  1676),  "serge  with  silk 
fringe"  (R.  Macklin,  1676),  "camlet  curtains  and  double 
valance  lined  with  yellow  silk  "  and  fringed  curtain  (Colonel 
Epes,  1678);  and  "  Kitterminster "  (W.  Sargent,  1683). 
Printed  calico  was  also  common.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  the  wooden  walls  were  rarely  air-tight,  and,  in  winter, 
bed-curtains  were  a  necessary  protection  against  the  strong 
draughts. 

The  will  of  Richard  Lee,  dated  1663,  shows  the  value 
that  was  still  attached  to  beds. 

"  Item.     My  will  and  earnest  desire  is  that  my  house- 

42 


I7TH   CENTURY   CROMWELL  CHAIR 
See  page  45. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


hold  stuff  at  Stratford  be  di- 
vided into  three  parts,  two  of 
which  I  give  to  my  son  John 
and  bind  him  to  give  to  every 
one  of  his  brothers  a  bed,  and 
the  other  part  I  give  to  my 
wife,  Anna  Lee. 

u  Item.  I  give 
and  bequeath  unto 
my  eldest  son  John 
three  islands  lying 
in  the  Bay  of  Ches- 
apeake, the  great 
new  bed  that  I 
brought  over  in  the 
Duke  of  York,  and 
the  furniture  there- 
to belonging." 

This  Colonel 
Lee,  who  dwelt  at 
Mt.  Pleasant, 
Westmoreland 
County,  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  of  the  early  planters 
of  Virginia.  His  tobacco  crop  was  worth  $10,000 
a  year  present  value  and  his  estate  at  Stratford-Langton,  in 
England,  $4,000  a  year  more.     He  died  in  1714. 

That  he  was  choice  in  his  household  goods  is  evident 
from  the  Saintsbury  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  1660  :  "The 
petition  in  behalf  of  Colonel  Richard  Lee,  of  Virginia,  to 
the  Lord  Protector  and  Council.  Certain  plate  brought 
from  Virginia  to  London  by  Colonel  Lee,  about  a  year  and 
a  half  ago,  to  change  the  fashion,  has  been  seized  on  his 

43 


AN   OAK   CHAIR    OF    1 649 

The  stuffed  seat  is  covered  with  maroon  leather  over  which  is  a 
piece  of  canvas  worked  with  colored  wools  in  the  manner  of  a 
carpet. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


return  to  Virginia,  by  the  searchers  at  Gravesend  ;  every 
piece  having  the  Colonel's  coat  of  arms,  and  being  for  his 
own  private  use,  who  did  not  know  but  that  plate  manu- 
factured might  be  transported  to  English  plantations." 

The  Colonel's  affidavit  stated  that  his  trunk  had  con- 
tained 200  ounces  of  silver  plate,  all  marked  with  his  coat 
of  arms  and  intended  for  his  own  use,  and  that  it  had  been 
seized  at  Gravesend  aboard  the  ship  Anthony  of  London, 
and  that  most  of  it  had  been  in  his  possession  for  many 
years  in  Virginia. 

After  the  execution  of  Charles  I,  Colonel  Norwood, 
with  other  Royalists,  took  ship  for  the  colony ;  and  he  has 
left  a  vivid  description  of  his  terrible  voyage.  He  and 
others  were  deserted  on  an  island  and  finally  reached 
Jamestown  by  the  aid  of  friendly  Indians.  In  the  first 
frontier  house  he  came  to,  "  a  large  bed  of  sweet  straw  was 
spread  ready  for  our  reception."  This  was  in  Northamp- 
ton County,  and  the  furniture  must  have  been  almost  nil. 
The  proverbial  lavish  hospitality  of  the  Virginians  was  al- 
ready noticeable,  for  we  read:  "As  we  advanced  into  the 
plantations  that  lay  thicker  together  we  had  our  choice  of 
hosts  for  our  entertainment,  without  money  or  its  value; 
in  which  we  did  not  begin  any  novelty,  for  there  are  no 
inns  in  the  colony,  nor  do  they  take  other  payment  for 
what  they  furnish  to  coasters,  but  by  requital  of  such  cour- 
tesies the  same  way  as  occasions  offer." 

We  have  now  reached  a  date,  therefore,  when  the  bet- 
ter houses  were  furnished  with  considerable  comfort  and 
variety.  Luxury  was  advancing.  The  tables  no  longer 
consisted  merely  of  boards  and  trestles ;  and  the  forms  and 
benches  were  fast  disappearing  in  favour  of  quite  a  variety 
of  chairs.     The  seats  and  sometimes  the  backs  of  the  latter 

44 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


were  comfortably  stuffed,  and  they  were  heavy  and  substan- 
tial rather  than  elegant  in  design.  The  woods  of  which 
they  were  made  are  seldom  mentioned  in  the  inventories. 
We  shall  have  to  wait  some  years  yet,  till  the  influence  of 
the  French  Renaissance,  now  beginning,  is  felt,  before  Eng- 
land and  her  colonies 
care  for  art  in  furni- 
ture. First,  in  order 
of  time,  came  the 
leather  chair,  high 
and  low,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  and  we 
may  mention  here  that 
the  brown  leather- 
covered  and  brass- 
nailed  chairs,  still 
known  as  the  "Crom- 
well chairs,"  were  im- 
ported  into  England 

I  o  shire,    England, -see  the  ac-       This  tvpe  of  chair  is  pecu- 

frOm    Holland.     Then     complying  illustration.  Seven-  liar 

to  Yorkshire  and  Derbv- 
teenth  century.     From  the  ori-    shjrei    England.      From  the 
Came    the    Turkey-    8inal  in  the  victoria  and  A!bert    original  in  the  Victoria  and 
J        Museum.  Albert  Museum. 

work  chair  which  was 

much  in  vogue  till  the  end  of  the  century.  It  probably 
got  its  name  from  the  rugs  imported  from  the  Levant,  for 
its  cover  was  embroidered  with  designs  in  bright  colours. 
The  "rush  "  and  wood-bottomed  chairs  were  the  common- 
est kinds;  in  1684  two  of  the  former  were  valued  at  two 
pounds  of  tobacco.  In  1676  "ten  wood-bottom  chairs" 
were  appraised  at  fifteen  pence  each.  There  were  not  so 
many  kinds  of  single  chairs  in  the  seventeenth  century  as 
there  were  of  armchairs.  There  were  two  very  favourite 
oak   patterns,  the   Derbyshire  and    the  Yorkshire.  The 

45 


OAKEN   CHAIR  I  JTH  CENTURY  CHAIR 

A  type   peculiar  to   Derby-  OF  OAK 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


former  belongs  to  the  time  of  James  I.  Its  hori- 
zontal pieces  are  tenoned  into  the  uprights  and  fastened 
with  oak  pegs.  Between  the  rails  three  arches  with 
neatly  turned  spindles  are  introduced.  The  chair  is 
exceedingly  firm  and  solid.  The  Yorkshire  model,  of 
which  great  numbers  were  produced,  is  rather  more  or- 
namental. Besides,  the  usual  uprights,  the  back  has  two 
rails,  an  arch  with  ornamental  scroll-work,  and  small 
turned  "droppers."  Here  we  also  find  the  bell-shaped 
flower,  or  columbine,  destined  to  appear  in  future  years, 
both  in  carving  and  inlay. 

Some  attention  was  given  to  ornamenting  the  chimney 
piece.     W.  Sargent  in  1683  ^a(^  a  "chimney-cloth." 

The  inventories  give  evidence  of  barter  with  the  Indians. 
Indian  baskets,  matting,  etc.,  are  not  uncommon. 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Colonel  John  Carter,  1  670, 
included  table  and  bed  linen,  curtains,  a  number  of  beds  and 
bedstead,  kitchen  utensils,  fifteen  "  turkie  work  chairs," 
twenty-one  old  leather-chairs,  eight  Turkey-work  cushions 
and  two  old  cushions,  six  Spanish  tables,  two  looking- 
glasses,  two  chests  of  drawers  and  some  silver  plate,  besides 
live  stock,  amounting  in  all  to  ^2250—10—6. 

Thirty-six  chairs  would  be  enough  for  a  moderate  house 
at  the  present  day,  so  Colonel  Carter  was  respectably  supplied. 
The  three-legged  joint-stool  was  also  universally  used  side 
by  side  with  the  chairs.  Captain  Thomas  Howell  of  Mary- 
land, March  14,  1676,  owned  ten  joint-stools,  two  wooden 
chairs,  six  small  chairs,  eighteen  leather  chairs,  six  Turkey- 
work  chairs  and  one  wicker  chair. 

The  prices  in  tobacco  were  as  follows:  six  leather 
chairs,  120  lbs.  (R.  Macklin,  1676);  2  joint  stools,  80  lbs., 
3  leather  chairs,  1  wooden  chair  and  2  cushions,  120  lbs., 

46 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


(G.  A.  Marshall,  1675);  one  great  wicker  chair,  40  lbs., 
(Edw.  Keene,  1646);  12  leather  chairs,  480  lbs.,  12 
Turkey-work  do,  960  lbs.,  2  old  wooden  do,  30  lbs.,  7 
small  wooden  do,  84  lbs.  (Captain  Edw.  Roe,  1676).  Thus 
we  see  that  the  prices  varied  greatly.  The  wicker  chair 
was  generally  accompanied  by  a  cushion,  though  the  latter 
is  not  always  mentioned  in  the  inventories.  In  addition  to 
the  above  kinds,  there  was  the  "straw"  chair,  and  the  chair 
with  a  seat  of  woven  "flag."  In  1694,  we  find  two  straw- 
bottomed  chairs  valued  at  one  shilling  and  sixpence;  and, 
in  the  same  year,  Michael  Swift's  "  nine  old  flag  and 
wooden  chairs"  were  appraised  at  eighteen  shillings.  The 
most  fashionable  chair,  however,  was  the  Russia  leather 
chair,  it  occurs  in  all  the  best  houses  towards  the  close  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  Colonel  Francis  Epes,  of  Henrico 
County,  October  1,  1678,  had  24  Russia  leather  high  chairs, 
^8-2-0.  He  also  possessed  "  1  2  Turkey  work  chairs,  ten 
of  which  are  new  at  ^4-5-0,  two  broken,  1  sh.,  9  Camlett 
[camel's-hair]  chairs,  7  of  them  new  at  7  shillings  per 
chair  and  2  broken  1  shilling,  ^2-10-0  ;  and  one  Ellboe 
chair  damnifyed  though  new,  7  shillings."  Besides  the 
above,  there  were  the  "calfskin,"  the  "rush,"  the  "cane," 
the  "bass,"  the  "black",  and  the  matted  chair.  Thus 
Thomas  Shippery  of  Henrico  County  ( 1684)  owned  "  one 
joyner's  (arm'd)  chair  "  valued  at  thirty  pounds  tobacco  and 
"two  rush  (green)  chairs,  20  lbs."  Henry  Watkins  (1700) 
had  six  bass  chairs,  value  twelve  shillings.  Col.  Jno.  Carr  of 
Maryland  in  1676  had  six  turned  Dutch  chairs,  360  lbs. 
Thomas  Bucke  (1659)  owned  four  lined  back  chairs,  £2., 
and  three  wainscot  chairs,  .Qi.  Chairs  were  very  numerous 
in  the  well-to-do  houses.  In  1694  N.  Bacon  was  not 
unusually  well  supplied  with  his  thirty-six.    The  accom- 


47 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


panying  illustration  affords  a  clear  view  of  the  cane  chairs 
of  the  period. 

The  chair  on  page  6  is  of  walnut.  It  has  a  high  back 
with  a  long  panel  rounded  at  each  end  and  rilled  in  with 
cane  webbing  with  a  carved  and  pierced  pedimental  top. 
The  two  turned  pillars  on  either  side  of  the  panel  are  con- 
tinuations of  the  back  legs.  The  front  legs  terminate  in 
moulded  feet  turned  outwards.  They,  as  well  as  the  strain- 
ing rails,  are  turned.  The  date  of  the  chair  is  about  1690. 
The  seat  is  plain  and  filled  in  with  cane  webbing.  On 
page  49  another  example  of  the  high-backed  cane  chair  is 
found.  The  wood  is  painted.  The  top  rail  of  the  back 
is  carved  and  pierced  and  below  it  is  a  panel  similar  to  that 
last  described  also  rilled  in  with  cane  webbing.  The 
side  supports  are  also  continuations  of  the  back  legs.  The 
square  frame  of  the  seat  is  rilled  in  with  cane;  the  front 
legs  are  carved  with  projecting  knees  and  feet  turned  out- 
wards. They  are  joined  by  a  carved  and  pierced  rail  with 
a  design  similar  to  that  in  the  top  of  the  back,  which  is  of 
scrolls  and  foliage.  The  third  chair  is  also  painted,  with 
a  high  back  and  top  rail  pierced  and  carved.  The  central 
panel  of  the  back  is  filled  in  with  cane  webbing  and  its 
frame  is  carved  and  incised,  as  is  the  broad  rail  joining  the 
two  iront  legs.  The  decoration  is  of  floral  scrolls  and  the 
legs  and  straining  rails  and  side  supports  of  the  back  are 
spirally  turned.  The  pine  cone  surmounts  these  side 
pillars  and  a  large  shell  holds  the  central  position  in  the 
top  rail.  The  date  of  this  chair  is  about  1660.  It  is  a 
good  example  of  the  general  carving  of  the  day.  The  shell 
is  of  great  antiquity  in  ornamentation. 

We  also  give  examples  of  two  other  chairs  of  the  same 
period.     The  armchair  is  exactly  similar  in  form  to  those 

48 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


I7TH   CENTURY  CHAIR 

Painted  ;  high  back  with 
carved  and  pierced  top  rail. 
Back  framing  and  lower  rail 
carved  and  incised,  the  central 
panel  of  the  back  and  seat  filled 
in  with  cane  webbing.  The  legs 
and  two  straining  rails  are  spirally 
turned.  Carved  and  incised  front 
rail.  About  1660.  Lent  by  W. 
H.  Evans,  Esq.,  Forde  Abbey. 


I7TH    CENTURY  CHAIR 

Walnut ;  high  back,  with  a 
long  panel  rounded  at  each  end  and 
filled  in  with  cane  webbing,  sur- 
mounted by  a  pedimental  piece 
carved  and  pierced,  supported  by 
two  turned  pillars  continuous  with 
the  cane  webbing.  The  seat  is  a 
plain  frame  filled  in  with  cane  web- 
bing. The  front  legs  and  straining 
rails  are  turned.  Lent  by  C.  H. 
Talbot,  Esq.,  Lacock  Abbey. 


already  described.  The  legs  are  simply  turned,  the  seat  is 
of  woven  cane  and  the  only  difference  is  in  the  carving  of 
the  back  and  of  the  front  rail,  which  is  very  ornate.  It  is 
of  a  beautiful  black  walnut.  The  other  high-backed  chair, 
said  to  be  Spanish,  precisely  follows  the  form  altogether  of 
the  other  examples  given.  The  back  and  seat  are  covered 
with  stamped  Spanish  leather  of  a  tawny  colour,  fastened 
with  big  brass  studs.  The  ornamentation  of  the  front  rail 
consists  simply   of  two  carved  interlacing  scrolls.  The 

49 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


HIGH-BACKED  CHAIR 

Covered  with  stamped  Spanish  leather 
of  a  tawny  colour  fastened  with  brass  studs. 
The  front  rail  consists  of  two  interlacing 
scrolls.  From  original  in  the  Memorial 
Hall,  Philadelphia.     See  page  49. 


IJTH  CENTURY   ARMCHAIR  OF  CARVED 
BLACK  WALNUT 
The  legs  are  turned,  the  seat  is  of  woven  cane.  The 
hack   and    the   front   rail    are    highly    carved.  See 
page  49. 


high-backed  Russia  leather  chairs  so  numerous  in  the  in- 
ventories, are  clearly  represented  in  this  specimen.  The 
low-backed  leather  chair,  which  also  had  a  leather  seat, 
was  square  and  squat  in  shape  and  is  also  shown  in  an  ac- 
companying illustration  in  a  specimen  belonging  to  Dr. 
Christopher  Witt,  a  German  pietist  and  astrologer,  known 
as  the  "Hermit  of  the  Wissahickon,"  who  died  in  1708. 
The  frame  was  very  often  quite  plain  with  square  legs 


5° 


CRADLE 


Oak  ;  t-ivo  carved  panels  at  each  side,  nuith  one  at  each  side  abo-ve,  at  the  head.      At  the  foot  there  is  a 
earned  panel  with  the  date  i68j.     Rockers  beloiu  tfie  feet.     At  each  corner 
there  is  a  turned  knob.      Geometrical  ornament. 


1 


CRADLE 

Oak  j  from  an  old  Worcestershire  manor  house.      Incised  panels  and  borders,  nvith  a  panelled  hood  at  the 
head.     Rockers  curved  at  the  tups,  held  in  the  forked  en, Is  of'  the  comer-posts. 
Cushions  inside  covered  with  figured  -velvet.     About  l6~6o. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  arms,  as  is  shown 
in  so  many  illustrations 
of  seventeenth  century 
life.  Dr.  Witt's  chair 
is  preserved  in  the 
American  Philosophical 
Society  in  Philadelphia. 

The  walnut  chairs 
in  the  illustration  on 
page  65  were  import- 
ed from  England  by 
Ralph  Wormeley  of 
Rosegi/f,  Middlesex 
County,  Va.,  towards 
the  end  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  and  were 
used  in  his  parlour. 
Eleanor  Plater,  who  was 
sister  of  Mrs.  Ralph 
Wormeley,  and  married 
Governor  Gooch,  embroidered  a  seat  for  these  chairs;  there 
are  six  in  the  set,  two  being  armchairs.  When  the  first 
Ralph  Wormeley  died  in  1703,  his  effects  were  sold 
and  the  chairs  were  bought  by  Mr.  John  Prosser  of 
White  Marsh,  Gloucester  County,  Va.,  whose  great-grand- 
daughter, Maud  Tabb,  married  John  Tayloe  Perrin,  a 
descendant  of  Ralph  Wormeley.  The  chairs  were  given 
to  Mrs.  Perrin  by  her  father,  Dr.  John  Prosser  Tabb. 
They  are  thus  among  the  oldest  authentic  specimens  of 
Virginia  furniture. 

Ralph  Wormeley  of  Rosegill  (1650- 1703)  owned  so 
great  an  estate  and  possessed  so  much  influence  that  Hart- 


I7TH   CENTURY  CHAIR 
Original  in  the  collection  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society.    It  is  said  to  have  been  the  chair  of  Dr.  Christopher 
Witt,  mystic  astrologer  and  doctor,  "  the  Hermit  of  the 
Wissahickon." 


51 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


well,  Blair  and  Chilton  speak  of  him  in  The  Present  State 
of  Virginia  (1699]  as  "the  greatest  man  in  Virginia." 

"  Rosegill,  where  the  Wormeleys  lived  in  English  state," 
writes  Bishop  Meade  in  his  Old  Churches  ( 1  872),  "  was  situ- 
ated high  upon  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock  River,  a  few 
miles  from  Old  Christ  Church.  It  was  a  large  and  hand- 
some specimen  of  an  old  colonial  mansion." 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Colonel  Francis  Epes,  of 
Henrico  County,  Va.,  October  1,  1678,  will  show  the 
growing  luxury  of  the  planters. 

£  s.  d. 

One  foure  foot  chest  of  drawers  seder 

[cedar?]  y  speckled  new  but  damnified,  1-10-0 
1  large  chest  of  drawers  new,  .  .  .  1-4-0 
1  small  table  damnified  though  new,        .  5-0 

1  large  folding-table*  new  but  damn,       .  1-5-0 

2  sacking  bottom  bedsteads  new,     .        .  2-10-0 

1  twisted  stand  new  &  ye  topp  of  another,  0-3-0 

2  setts  of  curtaine  rodds,  .  .  .  5-6 
1  suite  of  tapestry  hanging,     .        .        .  1 8-17-0 

1  large  olive  wood  glasse,  one  large  walnut 

tree  glass  2  pr  of  screws,      .        .        .  4-14-0 

2  doz  of  Russia  leather  high  chairs,  .        .  8-2-0 
12  Turkey  worke  chairs,  10  of  which  new 

at  ^4- -5,  two  broken  i,  .        .  4-6-0 

9  Camlett  chaires  7  of  them  new  at  j£ 

pr  chaire  &  2  broken  1  £,    ■        ■        ■  2—10-0 

One  Ellboe  chaire  damnifyed  though  new,  0-7-0 

One  large  new  feather  bed  with  camlett 
curtains  &  double  vallins  lind  with  yel- 
low silke,  bolster  pillow,  counterpane, 
Rodds  &  hooks  tops  &  stands  1  Cur- 
taine and  some  ffringe  damnifyed,         .  24-5-0 

1  yarn  rugg  &  1  blankett, 

*The  folding-table  was  known  in  England  as  early  as  1556. 


I-A-O 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

£  s.  d. 

1  middle  seize  calve  skinn  truncke  with 
drawers,      ......  0—12—0 

One  sacke  cloth  bottome  bedstead,  .  .  1—6-0 
One  old  ffeather  bed  and  bolster,  .  .  2—10-0 
One  small  old  ffeather  bed  and  bolster 

not  l/2  full,  .  1-0-0 
One  ffeather  bed,  bolster  &   2  pillows 

worne,       ......  2—0—0 

2  yarne  ruggs  worne  ye  largest   10s  ye 

other  7s,  .....  17-0 
One  middle  size  calve  skinn  truncke  with 

drawers,      ......  12-0 

One  old  leather  truncke  with  locke  and 

key,  3-4 

One  old  chest  of  drawers  without  keys,  .  5-0 
One  very  old  ffeather  bed  &  bolster  rugg 

&  2  blanketts  &  one  old  beddstead,  .  1-10-0 
One  very  old  bedd  bolster  two  course 

blanketts  &  an  old  trundle  beddstead  .  1-0-0 
One  small  old  ffeather  bed  small  bolster 

&  1  canvis  bolster  &  a  small  rugg  all 

very  old,    ......        10— o 

One  old  suite  of  Callicoe  curtaines  and 

vallaines,    ......  5-0 

Eleven  pds  of  plate  at  2j[  P-  pd  is  .  .  33-0-0 
An  old  standing  cupboard  and  one  small 

old  table  &  one  old  broken  chaire  of 

wood,        ......  2-0 

2  new  bedds  &  bollsters  &  3  new  pillows,  9-9-4 

2  New  Ruggs,       .....       1 -0-0 

3  new  blanketts,     .....  12-0 
One    small    old    bed    of  ffeathers  one 

blankett,  bolster  1  pr  of  canvis  sheetes, 
one  old  Rugg  one  blacke  leather  truncke,  6-0 
One  pair  of  bellowes  new,       .        .        .  2—6 
One  large  chest  with  lock  &  key  old,       .  7-0 

S3 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

£  s.  d. 

One  old  middle  size  chest  with  lock  &  key,  3-6 

One  small  old  chest  with  lock  &  key,  .  3-0 
Two  other  old  chests  without  keys  &  one 

without  hinges,  .....  10— o 

One  very  old  long  table  &one  little  ditto,  5-0 
One  old  coutch  1  leather  chaire  very  old 

&  lumber,  ......  3-0 

Three  old  beddsteads,     ....  6-0 

One  small   hammock   new   &    one  old 

coverlidd,  ......  1 3-0 

Two  cushions  &  one  turkey  workt  carpet,  1-2-0 
One    pr    of   new    Curtaines  &  vallins 

(Kidderminster),         ....  10-0 

One  old  Rugg  yarne,      ....  5-0 

One  old  bible  &  6  other  small  old  books,  5-0 
Two  small  writing  trunckes  with  locks  & 

keys    &  one    small   very  old  blacke 

truncke  (calve  skin),  ....  4-0 
Two  canes  one  of  them  broke  with  silver 

heads,        ......  7-0 

1  small  looking  glasse     ....  1-0 

(Total  /302-1-2) 

It  will  have  been  noticed  that  no  matter  how  scanty 
was  the  furniture,  it  invariably  included  some  receptacle 
for  clothes,  etc.  The  box,  case,  chest,  and  trunk  are  often 
found  in  the  same  inventory.  It  is  difficult  to  distinguish 
between  the  case  and  box,  but  the  chest  was  an  article  of 
some  decorative  importance.  The  oak,  or  cedar  chest  was 
more  or  less  ornate  in  accordance  with  the  wealth  and 
taste  of  the  owner.  Sometimes  it  rested  on  its  own  flat  base 
and  sometimes  on  short  legs.  Frequently  it  had  more  than 
one  lock  and  key,  as  was  the  case  with  the  one  sent  to  the 
Ashley  River  by  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  mentioned  later. 
Many  old  chests  are  heavily  bound  with  iron.    The  simpler 

54 


CABINET  OF  OAK 

The  miter  doors  are  -veneered  on  the  face  'with  hexagonal  pieces  of"  Thorn  Acacia"  wood.  The 
drawers  within,  eleven  in  number,  are  -veneered  with  walnut  with  an 
edging  of  sycamore.     Close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


OAKEN   CHEST  OF  DRAWERS 


kinds  would  merely  be 
carved  with  the  initials 
of  the  owner  and  the 
date  of  constructions. 
Sometimes  they  had  an 
appropriate  motto  or 
warning,  such  as  "  Come 
not  in  jest  to  open  this 
chest."  The  lid  of  the 
finer  specimens  would 
often  be  inlaid  with  a  fo- 
liage design  and  the  front 
and  sides  would  have 
carved  panels  represent- 
ing biblical  scenes  or  my- 
thological personages,  or 

Simply  GothiC  tracery  Or       Consisting  of  four  long  drawers,  each  of  which  is  decor- 

fl■l  -I-!  q  r  ated  in  front  with  two  panels  of  raised  moulding.  The 

Oral  SCrOllS.  OOme  OI  escutcheon  plates  and  drop  handles  are  of  brass.  The  whole 
1  1      i  i  rests  on  four  spirally  turned  legs  strengthened  by  plain  bars. 

tUe  ClOtneS  CneStS  at  One    Late  seventeenth  century.    Height,  4  ft.  4^  in. ;  length, 
1  ,    •        i  it    lit.  iin.:  width,  1  ft.  10  in. 

end   contained   a  small 

inner  box  with  hinged  lid  for  holding  fans,  laces  and  other 
feminine  trifles.  Drawers  were  soon  inserted  into  the  lower 
part  of  the  chest  and  the  next  step  was  to  cut  the  remain- 
ing part  of  the  front  into  doors  and  put  shelves  inside. 
When  towards  the  close  of  the  century  Colonel  Fitzhugh 
sends  to  London  for  some  silver  plate,  he  stipulates  that  it 
shall  be  packed  in  chests,  because  of  their  great  usefulness, 
though  he  evidently  feels  that  he  has  to  excuse  his  extrava- 
gance. These  chests,  therefore,  must  have  been  something 
more  than  mere  packing-cases.  He  was  ordering  something 
that  he  could  not  cause  to  be  made  by  his  own  workmen. 
The  chest  with  drawers  occurs  frequently  in  the  inven- 

ss 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


tories  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  A  further  de- 
velopment consisted  in  topping  the  drawers  with  a  "bureau," 
which  was  used  in  its  literal  sense  of  "  office."  It  was  closed 
by  a  sloping  flat  to  be  used  as  a  writing-table,  with  two 
sliding  "draw-out"  supports.  This  top  usually  contained 
pigeon-holes  and  drawers  both  visible  and  secret.  The 
chest  with  drawers  was  quite  an  expensive  article  of  furni- 
ture in  Virginia  in  1676.  G.  F.  Beckwith  owned  one 
valued  at  about  $70  present  money.  He  also  possessed  a 
"chest  with  drawers,"  "a  box  with  drawers,"  and  "  a  desk 
with  drawers,"  all  worth  about  $80.  Another  instance  is 
found  the  same  year  in  Robert  Macklin,  whose  parlour 
contained  a  great  "elm  chest,"  a  deal  ditto,  a  "trunk  with 
drawers,"  a  "Dutch  case,"  a  "little  nest  of  drawers,"  and 
"two  old  trunks,"  valued  in  all  at  400  pounds  tobacco.  In 
the  same  year  Captain  T.  Marshall  owned  a  "  box  of 
drawers,"  and  Captain  J.  Carr  a  "  chest  of  drawers,"  valued 
at  450  pounds  tobacco.  Chests  of  drawers  were  also  pos- 
sessed by  N.  Bacon  ( 1694)  ^1,  and  another  at  14  shillings, 
and  Henry  Watkins  (1700),  £2. 

A  desk  of  some  kind  was  found  in  every  respectable 
house.  Examples  are  plentiful  towards  the  end  of  the 
century.  In  1684  the  Rev.  Thomas  Perkins  owned  a  desk 
and  sealskin  case,  250  pounds  tobacco.  Other  instances 
are:  an  old  desk,  Mrs.  Fauntleroy  (1686);  two  desks,  250 
pounds  tobacco,  Captain  J.  Carr  (1676) ;  Thomas  Howlett, 
one  (1685),  and  N.  Bacon  another,  at  five  shillings,  in 
1694.  Captain  J.  Goodwin  may  end  the  list  with  one  in 
1 701 . 

Miss  Mary  Jones  of  Gloucester  County,  Va.,  owns  an 
ancient  desk  belonging  to  the  Fauntleroy  family,  which 
may  be  the  very  one  recorded  above. 

56 


CABINET  OF  WALNUT  WOOD 


With  tivo  cupboards  and  tiuo  dra-uoers,  above  luhich  is  a  canopy  supported  on  four  balusters  ; 
ivhole  is  ornamented  nvitk  carvings  in  relief  of  men  on  horseback,  cherubs''  heads, 
lions'  masks,  figures,  and  fruit.      English,  seventeenth  century. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Dressing-tables  were  to  be  found  in  considerable  profu- 
sion. Examples  still  in  existence,  of  the  date  of  1690,  are 
veneered  with  walnut  as  well  as  solid.  Some  of  them  had 
two  deep  side  drawers  and  a  shallower  central  one  with 
brass  key-plates  and  handles.  Others  were  inlaid  in  a 
band  around  the  top  of  the  table  and  faces  of  the  drawers 
with  box-wood  and  ebony.  Sometimes  the  legs  were 
plain  and  sometimes  they  showed  the  growing  Dutch  in- 
fluence and  were  of  the  cabriole  shape  with  web  feet.  A 
typical  combination  dressing-table,  "scrutore,"  and  swing- 
glass  (circalated  1700)  is  of  walnut  with  the  glass  bevelled 
and  the  frame  slightly  carved  and  gilt.  The  front  has 
beading  and  moulding  ornamentation  and  the  supports  are 
four  cabriole  legs  with  shell  carvings.  The  looking-glass 
was  sometimes  fixed  to  the  top  of  a  case  or  chest  of  draw- 
ers. Captain  James  Archer  (1607)  owned  "one  chest  of 
drawers,  one  dressing  box,  three  looking-glasses,  and  one 
glass  case,"  all  valued  at  ^4-15—0. 

The  first  item  of  the  inventory  of  Colonel  Epes,  given 
above,  shows  that  the  "chest  of  drawers"  was  often  of 
considerable  size.  Two  other  items  supply  us  with  exam- 
ples of  trunks  containing  drawers.  The  trunks  were 
"leather,"  "calf-skin,"  "seal-skin,"  "gilt,"  and  on  at  least 
one  occasion  we  find  an  "oyster-shell  trunk."  Special  im- 
portance was  attached  to  locks  and  keys  and  their  absence 
is  usually  noted.  The  metal-work  was  highly  valued. 
Curtain-rods  even,  as  in  the  above  inventory,  possessed  a 
value  by  no  means  despicable,  and  it  is  noticeable  that  the 
absence  of  hinges  is  considered  worth  recording,  and  even 
the  screws  of  the  looking-glasses  are  not  forgotten. 

Colonel  Epes  was  one  of  many  rich  planters  whose 
walls  were  hung,  with  tapestry.     Hangings  worth  nearly 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


$500  in  our  money  must  have  contributed  considerable 
elegance  to  his  rooms.  The  Turkey-work  carpet  men- 
tioned is  probably  nothing  but  a  table-cloth,  as  in  so  many 
previous  examples.  The  two  cushions  mentioned  with  it, 
all  together  valued  at  twenty-two  shillings,  were  probably 
embroidered.  Cushions  were  in  great  favour  and  were 
found  in  great  profusion  in  the  houses  of  the  seventeenth 
century;  the  lines  of  the  seats  were  somewhat  rigid  and  the 
comfort  of  the  sitter  depended  largely  on  cushions,  espe- 
cially as  in  many  cases  the  carving  was  not  so  disposed  as 
to  contribute  to  personal  ease.  It  is  to  be  noticed  that  the 
projecting  carving  in  the  backs  of  the  chairs  gradually  dis- 
appears, or  is  subdued.  The  finer  examples  of  cushions 
were  Turkey-work,  silk,  satin,  velvet,  damask,  and  other 
materials  that  lent  themselves  to  embroidery.  Fine  needle- 
work was  a  common  female  accomplishment  during  this 
century  and  special  bequests  of  worked  material  are  fre- 
quently found  in  the  wills. 

As  we  have  already  seen,  the  mirror  with  olive-wood 
frame  in  Colonel  Epes's  inventory  came  from  Italy;  the 
large  "walnut-tree  glasse  "  was,  in  all  probability,  a  produc- 
tion of  the  Vauxhall  factory  recently  established. 

We  may  take  another  example  of  this  period  in  Nicho- 
las Wyatt  of  Maryland,  whose  inventory  was  sworn  to 
September  25,  1676.  His  house  consisted  of  a  hall,  par- 
lour, hall  chamber,  porch  chamber,  parlour  chamber, 
kitchen,  cellar,  milkhouse,  kitchen  chamber,  kitchen,  but- 
tery, kitchen  loft,  and  quarter.  In  the  hall  were  seven 
framed  pictures  on  the  walls,  and  "a  window-cloth"  at 
the  window.  There  was  one  oblong  table  and  "carpet" 
and  six  joint  stools:  here  the  family  took  their  meals. 
Along  the  walls  and  disposed  in  various  places  were  sixteen 

5« 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Turkey-work  chairs,  and  seven  leather  chairs  in  addition. 
In  the  big  fire-place  were  brass  andirons,  and  beside  them 
stood  tongs,  shovels  and  a  pair  of  bellows.  A  couch-bed 
with  its  appurtenances  stood  in  one  corner  of  the  big  room, 
and  a  cabinet  and  small  trunk  in  another.  A  chest  of 
drawers  with  "cloth  and  cushion,"  a  side  cupboard  (not 
fixed  to  the  wall,  but  a  separate  piece  of  furniture)  also 
with  "cloth  and  cushion,"  containing  "a  parcel  of  books," 
"a  beer  glass"  and  "snuffers";  and  a  looking-glass  and  a 
round  table  completed  the  list.  Entering  the  parlour  we 
find  a  four-post  bedstead  with  curtains  and  valance,  and  on 
it  a  comfortable  feather-bed,  bolster  and  pillows  with  a 
gaily  coloured  rug  above  all.  There  is  also  a  couch  with 
its  bed  and  furnishings.  Though  the  floor  is  bare  there  is 
a  "window  cloth"  at  the  window,  and  six  framed  pictures 
adorn  the  walls.  Against  one  wall  stands  a  chest  of  draw- 
ers covered  with  a  cloth.  The  looking-glass  that  is  men- 
tioned probably  stands  on  this,  as  does  also  a  silver  caudle 
cup.  A  cupboard  "with  cloth  and  cushion"  contains 
three  wine-glasses,  a  brush  and  a  nest  of  hour-glasses.  The 
room  has  no  table,  but  is  well  supplied  with  chairs.  There 
is  one  cushioned  wicker  chair  and  three  straw,  three  wooden 
and  four  Turkey-work  chairs.  The  fire-place  is  furnished 
with  fire-irons  and  andirons,  and  a  seal-skin  trunk  against 
the  wall. 

In  the  "hall  chamber"  is  another  four-post  bedstead 
with  the  usual  bedding.  It  is  furnished  with  a  pair  of 
serge  curtains  and  valance.  A  trundle  bed  (that  rolls  under 
the  big  one)  also  has  its  bedding  and  furniture  covered 
with  a  counterpane.  A  table  with  "carpet"  and  five 
leather  chairs  and  a  joint-stool  help  to  make  the  room 
comfortable.     There  is  an  extra  trundle  bed  and  bedding 

59 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


covered  with  an  embroidered  rug.  In  the  fire-place  are  the 
shovel,  tongs  and  andirons.  There  is  also  a  looking-glass 
and,  finally,  two  chests  and  a  trunk,  one  of  which  contains 
five  pairs  of  sheets. 

In  the  "porch  chamber"  is  a  "standing  bedstead,  bed 

and  furniture  with  dar- 
nick  curtains  and  val- 
ence." Four  pictures 
relieve  the  bareness  of 
these  walls  also.  Last- 
ly, there  is  a  table  and 
"  carpet,"  a  joint-stool 
and  four  other  stools 
three  of  which  h 
cushions. 

In  the  "  parlour 
chamber  "  we  find  an- 
other "standing  bed- 
stead, bed  and  furni- 
ture," and  a  couch 
with  the  same.  Three 


ave 


CABINET 

The  upper  part  is  a  cupboard  with  two  doors,  inclosing 
shelves,  and  the  lower  part  fitted  with  four  drawers.  It  is  of 
oak,  veneered  with  various  woods,  chiefly  walnut,  and  has  in 
several  panels  figure  and  floral  ornament  in  pear  wood  inlaid  in 
ebony.  About  1670-80.  Height,  6  ft.  9  in.;  width,  4  ft. 
6  in.;  depth,  21V2  in.     Bought  ^42. 


more  pictures  are  on 
the  walls,  and  the 
room  is  supplied  with 
a  table  with  a  cloth  on  it,  a  straw  chair  and  a  form. 
Here  also  is  a  chest  and  a  box  containing  the  household 
linen.  The  latter  consists  of  one  pair  of  "pillow- 
coats,"  seven  pairs  of  sheets,  two  diaper  table-cloths, 
five  other  table-cloths,  twelve  diaper  napkins,  and  four 
dozen  and  four  other  napkins,  fifteen  pillow-coats,  seven 
towels,  three  small  table-cloths,  and  one  old  table-cloth. 
The  accommodations  for  the  servants  are  not  so  scanty 

60 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


as  usual.  In  the  "kitchen  cham- 
ber" is  one  flock  bed  and  furniture, 
one  feather  ditto,  a  looking-glass, 
a  chest  and  some  boxes. 

The  cabinet  mentioned  in  the 
above  inventory  was  common  to 
the  homes  of  almost  all  well-to-do 
people.  In  mediaeval  days  it  was 
almost  as  necessary  to  the  rich  as 
the  chest  was  to  the  poor.  In  the 
seventeenth  century  nearly  every 
man  who  had  valuables  of  small  bulk 
possessed  one.  Many  early  examples 
are  very  ornate.  It  was  usually 
carved  and  often  inlaid  with  ebony, 
ivory,  and  mother  of  pearl  in  various 
patterns.  Oak  inlaid  with  walnut 
frequently  occurs.  The  ornamen- 
tation was  very  varied.  Panelling 
was  exceedingly  common  and 
cabinets  decorated  with  turned  half- 
rails  were  quite  characteristic  of 
the  period.  At  the  close  of  the 
century  Dutch  styles  prevailed  in 
England,  as  was  only  natural  with 
a  Dutch  king  on  the  throne  and 
Dutch  celebrities  in  English  homes. 
The  cabinets  then  have  florid  mar- 
quetry decoration  of  large  natural 
tulips  and  other  flowers.  The  con- 
tinental wood-work  was  working  its 
way  into  favour  before  this,  however, 


SECTION  OF 
I7TH  CENTURY  CABINET 


CARVED  OAK 

I7TH   CENTURY  CABINET 

Decorations  similar  to  the  English  late 
Elizabethan  or  Jacobean  style.  Flemish, 
about  1  620.  Height,  3  ft.  6  in. ,  length,  4 
ft.  1  in,;  width,  1  ft.  8  in.   Bought  ^18. 


61 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  even  before  1625  the  carved  fronts  of  cabinets  executed 
in  the  Low  Countries,  where  carving  had  reached  such  a 
high  pitch  of  excellence,  were  sent  down  the  canals,  and 
shipped  to  the  eastern  ports  of  England.  The  backs  and 
sides  were  added  by  village  carpenters.  The  same  system 
would  undoubtedly  prevail  in  the  English  colonies. 

Hitherto  we  have  said  nothing  about  tables,  though  the 
lists  given  will  have  afforded  a  clear  idea  of  that  article  of 
furniture  during  the  seventeenth  century.  Traces  of  the 
Tudor  period  still  lingered  in  the  styles,  the  constantly  re- 
curring "Spanish  table"  is  Elizabethan  pure  and  simple  ;  in 
fact,  many  an  inventory  carries  us  directly  back  to  the  day 
when  the  poet  wrote  : 

"  Set  me  fine  Spanish  tables  in  the  hall, 
See  they  be  fitted  all ; 
Let  there  be  room  to  eat 
And  order  taken  that  there  tuant  no  meat. 
See  every  sconce  and  candlestick  made  bright, 
That  without  tapers  they  may  give  a  light. 
Look  to  the  presence :     are  the  carpets  spread, 
The  dais  o'er  the  head, 
The  cushions  in  the  chairs, 
And  all  the  candies  lighted  on  the  stairs? 
Perfume  the  chambers  and  in  any  case 
Let  each  man  give  attendance  in  his  place.'"* 

Another  table  that  was  found  in  the  better  class  of 
house  was  the  "  folding  table."  This  was  probably  of 
Dutch  origin.  It  varied  in  size,  the  smallest  having  twelve 
legs  and  the  largest  having  twenty  legs.  These  legs  could 
be  pulled  out  to  support  leaves  and  by  this  means  the  table 
could  be  enlarged  to  three  times  its  ordinary  size.  The 


*  Christ  Church  MS. 


62 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


I7TH   CENTURY   OAK   TABLE    WITH    EXTENDING  TOP 
The  frame  is  incised  and  carved  ;  the  four  baluster  legs  are  turned  and  carved.     Heavy  straining  rails 
join  the  legs  near  the  ground.     About  1610.     Lent  by  the  Governor  of  the  Charterhouse.  £130. 


turned  legs  were  no  thicker  than  was  necessary.  In 
the  inventories  the  wood  of  which  the  tables  were  com- 
posed is  very  rarely  mentioned.  When  imported,  they 
were  of  the  oak  which  still  lingered  in  English  mansions. 
The  native  walnut,  oak,  cedar,  pine,  and  cypress  were 
largely  used  in  the  native-made  tables.  A  curious  kind 
greatly  in  favour  in  England  during  the  period  was  the 
chair-table.  The  back  of  the  chair  turned  on  a  hinge  and 
formed  a  small  table.  In  1682  we  find  one  valued  at  three 
shillings  in  the  possession  of  Christopher  Branch  of  Henrico 
County,  Va.;  another  occurs  among  the  possessions  of 
Francis  Moss  in  1686.  There  was  considerable  variety  in 
the  shape  of  the  seventeenth  century  table.  The  round 
and  the  oval  are  frequently  mentioned.  In  1673,  Elizabeth 
Butler  bequeaths  an  "oval"  and  a  "drawing-table." 

A  drawing-table  is  an  extension  table.  I  cannot  do 
better  than  quote  the  explanation  given  by  S.  T.  Robinson 
in  the  Art  'Journal:     "The  end  leaves  were  fixed  upon 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


graduated  bearers,  and  to  prevent  their  upper  surfaces  from 
being  scratched  as  they  are  drawn  out  a  slight  vertical 
movement  is  allowed  to  the  centre  part  of  the  table  which 
permits  it  to  be  lifted  up  till  they  are  quite  clear  of  it. 
The  extent  of  the  movement  is  regulated  by  the  projecting 
heads  of  the  two  pins  which  fit  closely  into  the  immovable 
crosspiece.  As  soon  as  the  leaf  is  drawn  out,  the  free  play 
given  to  these  pins  in  the  crosspiece  permits  the  centre- 
piece to  fall  into  its  original  position  which  it  does  by  its 
own  gravity.  The  leaves  being  now  raised  by  the  gradu- 
ated bearers  to  the  required  height,  the  upper  surface  of  the 
table  becomes  level  throughout.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say 
that  the  adjustment  of  these  slides  is  a  matter  of  nice 
calculation,  and  that  great  ingenuity  has  been  shown  in 
bringing  about  so  satisfactory  a  result  .  .  .  The  whole 
mechanism  is  admirably  considered  for  the  purpose  it  has 
to  fulfill.  Indeed  its  adaptation  for  its  purpose  was  so  good 
that  the  principle  was  long  retained ;  and  Sheraton,  so  late 
as  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  advocates  its 
use  for  many  writing  or  other  tables,  and  gives  the  rule  for 
finding  the  exact  rake  of  the  slides  and  the  technical  detail 
of  all  the  other  parts." 

In  1676  Thomas  Skinner  owned  a  "  Dutch  folding 
table,"  and  twenty-five  years  later  we  find  John  Goodwin 
with  another  large  one  of  the  same  kind  valued  at  £2-0-0. 
He  also  owned  a  small  folding  and  a  small  cross-legged 
table.  Stephen  Gill,  as  earlv  as  1653,  had  a  "small  side 
table,"  and  in  1655  Robert  Wilkinson  possessed  a  "short 
leaf"  table.  The  "falling"  table  also  was  by  no  means 
rare.  Thomas  Osborne  had  a  "sideboard"  table  in  1696, 
and  lastly  we  find  a  slate  table  valued  at  jT\  ;  and  a  small 
table  and  drawer  in  the  inventory  of  H.  Watkins,  1700. 

64 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Card-tables  as  separate  articles  of  furniture  do  not  seem 
to  have  been  in  use  until  late  in  the  century,  when  they 
were  probably  imported  by  Dutch  ships.  Cards,  however, 
were  a  very  favorite  means  of  passing  the  hours  of  leisure, 
and  gambling  was  probably  as  prevalent  as  drinking.  In 


WALNUT  CHAIRS 


Originally  belonging  to  Ralph  Wormeley  of  Virginia.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  John  Tayloe  Perrin, 
of  Baltimore.     See  page  51. 

William  Fitzhugh's  letters  we  find  several  references  to  deep 
potations  and  his  own  lack  of  prowess  with  the  cup.  Cards 
are  occasionally  considered  worth  recording  in  the  inven- 
tories. In  1 70 1  Richard  Dunbar  left  behind  him  in  a 
wicked  world  twenty-nine  dozen  packs  of  playing  cards, 
valued  at  ^1—9-0,  and  in  the  same  year  Alexander  Young 

65 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


left  twenty  dozen  "pack,  cards,"  appraised  at  jT\.  These 
were  probably  kept  for  sale. 

Pictures  existed  in  far  greater  numbers  than  is  generally 
supposed,  though  their  nature  and  subject  are  hardly  ever 
specified  during  the  seventeenth  century.  "  A  parcel  of 
pictures  "  is  a  common  item  in  the  inventories  of  the  more 
prosperous  class. 

Books  were  scarce  and  seem  to  have  been  appraised  in 
accordance  with  their  age.  Half  a  dozen  odd  volumes  was 
the  utmost  possessed  by  the  average  individual,  and  if  these 
happened  to  be  old,  the  value  attributed  was  insignificant. 
Ralph  Worm eley  was  an  exception,  as  at  his  death,  in  1701, 
he  had  more  than  400  works  in  his  library.  Richard  Lee 
was  another.  He  possessed  more  than  300  books.  The 
clergy  and  doctors  sometimes  had  a  considerable  number  of 
volumes  dealing  with  their  own  professions ;  but  "  a  parcel 
of  old  books"  was  sufficient  description  for  the  average 
library.  Dr.  John  Willoughby,  of  Rappahannock  County, 
had  one  of  the  respectable  libraries,  while  of  the  clergy, 
Thomas  Perkins  (clerk)  had  only: 

lbs.  tobacco 

A  pcell  of  old  parchmt  &  paper  covered  books,  050 
Another  pcell  of  books,        ....  258 

3  books  at  ......  450 

One  bible  and  common  prayer  book,  .  .124 
Another  parcel  of  books,  .        .  .210 

Dr.  Willoughby's  library  was  as  follows  : 

Inv.  Mch.  3,  1686. 

6  Books  of  Phisick  in  folio,  .  .  .  240 

14    "             "       "  quarto,  .  .  .  220 

8      "             "       "  octavo,  .  .  -075 

16    "            £C      "  XI J,  .  .  .096 

66 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


lbs.  tobacco 


6  history  books  in  folio,        .        .        .  .120 

12  "  "  "  quarto,  most  old,  .  .120 
A  bible  in  large  quarto,  .  .  .  .120 
2  Books  of  Divinity  in  folio,  .  .  .  100 
20  "  "  "  quarto,  .  .  .  340 
27  "  "  "  octavo,  most  old,  .  270 
25     "            "        "  XIJ,        .        .  .230 

13  old  Books,     ......  030 

A  parcel  of  old  imperfect  books,           .  .  030 

2  Books  of  Law  in  folio,      .        .        .  .150 

4      "           "     "  quarto,           .        .  .  080 
9      "           "     "8°,         ....  180 

23    "           "     "  XVJ,     .        .        .  .230 


Table  forks  did  not  come  into  use  till  the  close  of  this 
period,  the  "ffork"  or  "flesh  fork"  being  merely  the  large 
one  used  in  the  kitchen  to  remove  the  meat  from  the  spit 
or  pot.  In  1  yo  1  John  Goodwin's  inventory  shows  a  case 
of  ivory-hafted  knives  and  forks  at  the  surprisingly  low 
value  of  seven  shillings.  The  statement  in  Leah  and  Rachel 
(1656),  "There  is  good  store  of  plate  in  many  houses,"  is 
abundantly  justified  by  the  inventories. 

Warming-pans  were  a  necessity.  During  the  seven- 
teenth century  they  were  commonly  in  England  orna- 
mented in  various  ways,  generally  with  subjects  either  of 
figures  or  of  scrolls  of  foliage  beaten  up  in  relief.  In 
richer  examples  the  brass  cover  was  cut  through  in  per- 
forated or  openwork.  Ladies  and  cavaliers,  peacocks  and 
flowers,  are  found  as  decorations,  and  the  incised  carving 
on  the  figures  was  often  carefully  done.  The  handle  was 
usually  of  iron,  fitted  into  wood.  The  handles  of  the 
finer  examples  have  often  brass  mounts.  Fourteen  inches 
was  the  usual  diameter  of  the  pan. 

67 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


We  have  already  spoken  of  the  conditions  of  trade  in 
Virginia.  English  ships  brought  in  most  of  the  articles  of 
household  use,  but  not  all.  The  home  authorities  made 
strenuous  but  not  altogether  successful  efforts  to  exclude 
the  pushing  Dutch  traders.  Dutch  furniture  found  its 
way  into  the  houses  and  has  left  its  mark  in  the  inven- 
tories.    Instances  have  already  been  given. 

The  influence  of  the  French  Renaissance  was  beginning 
to  tell,  and  fashion  also  created  a  strong  demand  for  the 
wares  in  the  manufacture  of  which  the  Dutch  particularly 
excelled.  Marquetry  was  one  of  the  distinguishing  char- 
acteristics of  their  furniture,  and  we  may  be  permitted  to 
say  a  few  words  concerning  this  form  of  inlaying. 

In  western  Europe  during  the  seventeenth  century 
marquetry  was  extensively  used  and  became  the  leading 
feature  of  furniture  decoration.  Inlaying  had  long  been 
in  use,  but  the  new  marquetry  was  a  picturesque  composi- 
tion, a  more  complete  attempt  at  pictorial  representation. 
The  older  designs  represent  natural  flowers,  especially 
tulips,  foliage,  birds  and  animals,  all  in  gay  tints,  generally 
the  self  colours  of  the  woods  that  were  employed.  Some- 
times the  eyes  and  other  salient  points  are  in  ivory  and 
mother-of-pearl.  In  the  earlier  French  marquetry  designs 
picturesque  landscapes,  broken  architecture  and  figures  are 
represented,  and  colours  are  occasionally  stained  on  the 
wood.  Ebony  and  ivory  were  materials  much  in  favour 
for  this  inlaying,  as  was  also  the  case  in  Germany  and 
Italy.  When  the  art  crossed  into  England  with  William 
of  Orange,  Dutch  marquetry  furniture  became  the  fashion 
in  the  form  of  bandy-legged  chairs,  upright  clock 
fronts,  secretaries,  or  bureaus,  or  writing-cabinets,  which 
in  the  upper  and  middle   parts  were   closed  with  doors, 

68 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


that   offered   services   for  such 

the  chairs  and  other  articles  of 
eir  severe  lines  and  assumed  the 


as  well  as   other  pieces 
decoration. 

Under  this  influence 
furniture  relinquished  th 
curves  that  are  charac- 
teristic of  the  ensuing 
period.  A  good  exam- 
ple of  this  is  afforded 
by  a  chair,  which,  per- 
haps, owes  more  to  the 
influence  of  the  French 
Renaissance  than  the 
Dutch.  It  belonged  to 
the  second  William  Byrd 
immediately  at  the  close 
of  this  period,  and  was 
one  of  a  set  used  in  the 
dining-room  of  his  home 
at  Westover.  The  back 
and  seat  are  stuffed  and 
upholstered  in  velvet, 
the  back  legs  terminate 
in  the  hoof  form  and 
the  front  in  the  ball  and 
claw,  which  Chippen- 
dale adopted  with  such 
affection.      The  leg 

curves  outward  directly  from  the  corner  of  the  seat,  and 
is  boldly  and  gracefully  carved  with  the  acanthus.  This 
chair  now  belongs  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Byrd  Nicholas,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. 

It  presents  a  striking  contrast  in  general  style  to  the 

69 


CHAIR  SHOWING  THE  RENAISSANCE 
INFLUENCE 
Belonged  to  the  second  Colonel  William  Byrd  of  West- 
over  ;  now  owned  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Byrd  Nicholas, 
Washington,  D.  C.  The  back  and  seat  are  stuffed  and 
upholstered  in  velvet ;  the  back  legs  terminate  in  hoof 
form,  the  front  in  the  ball  and  claw.  The  leg  curves  out- 
ward directly  from  the  corner  of  the  seat  and  is  boldly  and 
gracefully  carved  with  the  acanthus. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


black  oak  sideboard  facing  page  70 .  The  latter  is  an 
English  piece  and  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  Lord  Balti- 
more. It  was  long  in  possession  of  the  family  of  Charles 
Carroll,  of  Carrollton  of  Maryland,  and  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Edward  C.  Pickering  of  the  Observatory,  Cambridge, 
Mass.  The  lion's  head,  in  high  relief,  is  a  bold  piece  of 
carving ;  the  brass  handles  are  modern  additions. 

Home-made  furniture  was  also  found  in  considerable 
quantities,  though  only  the  rougher  kinds.  Francis  Finch 
(1678)  had  a  "couch  made  in  this  country;"  John  Good- 
win (1701)  owned  a  "Virginia  table,"  and  a  "Virginia- 
made  bedstead"  is  sometimes  mentioned.  The  general 
absence  of  home-made  furniture  was,  however,  remarkable. 
In  describing  Virginia,  in  1705,  Beverley  says  :  "  They  are 
such  abominable  ill  husbands  that,  though  their  country  be 
overrun  with  wood,  yet  they  have  all  their  wooden  ware 
from  England — their  cabinets,  chairs,  tables,  stools,  chests, 
boxes,  cart-wheels  and  all  other  things,  even  so  much  as 
their  bowls  and  birchen  brooms,  to  the  eternal  reproach  of 
their  laziness."  We  have  seen  that  this  statement  is  some- 
what too  sweeping.  It  was  the  policy  of  the  authorities 
rather  than  native  laziness  that  was  responsible  for  the  con- 
dition of  affairs.  The  Southerners  were  prevented,  if  pos- 
sible, from  trading  with  their  enterprising  brethren  in  New 
England  as  well  as  with  the  Dutch.  The  following  ex- 
tracts from  the  Maryland  Assembly  Proceedings  are  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  : 

May  28,  1697. 

Proposed  : 

4.  "  That  a  law  be  made  to  lay  an  Imposicon  upon  all  manner  of 
wooden  ware  and  ffish  brought  from  New  England  &  other  adjacent 
places,  as  also  upon  Sugar  &  Mallassoes  imported  by  strangers." 

70 


8 


Q 

< 
O 

Q  a: 


< 

Q 
O 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


June  the  8th,  1697. 

The  Lords  of  Council  for  trade  &  plantacons  laid  before  the 
house  as  followith  : 

6.  "  Generally  all  the  Inhabitants  of  this  province  being  La- 
bourers are  imployed  in  planting  tobacco  except  Coopers  Carpen- 
ters, some  few  that  navigate  sloopes  and  a  very  small  number  of 
other  artificers  having  relation  to  Tobacco,  all  which  excepted  (by 
Estimacon)  make  not  above  the  60th  part  of  such  labourers." 

8.  "  This  privince  hath  little  traffick  with  any  other  his  Matys 
Colonys  in  America  or  elsewhere,  and  the  little  traffick  which  is 
vsed  is  by  exporting  hence  porke,  beife,  pipe  staves,  timber  and  such 
like,  together  with  wheat,  flour  and  some  small  quantities  of  tobacco, 
to  Barbadoes  either  by  small  Craft  belonging  to  this  province  or 
New  England  who  trade  here  for  rum,  sugar  &  malasses  most 
especially  &  some  parcells  of  fish  &  some  (inconsiderable)  wooden 
wares  of  their  owne  manufacture." 

The  court  records  of  Essex  County,  Virginia,  for  May 
7,  1685,  afford  interesting  details  from  which  we  may 
form  a  picture  of  the  furnishing  of  a  court-house  of  the 
day.  It  seems  that  a  chair  made  by  a  local  carpenter  was 
good  enough  for  the  President  of  the  Court,  and  that  the 
other  members  had  to  be  content  with  a  hard  bench. 

"  Ordered  that  Maximilian  Robinson  be  allowed  450  lbs.  tob 
&  cask,  the  price  for  a  table  by  him  sold  for  the  use  of  the  Court 
to  be  held  on  the  North  side  of  the  River. 

"  Whereas,  it  is  agreed  between  this  Court  &  Thomas  Bradly 
that  the  sd  Bradley  do  between  this  and  the  beginning  of  July  next 
make  and  in  workman-like  manner  set  up  Banisters  Cross  the 
Roome  where  the  Court  is  held  on  the  North  side  the  River,  of  an 
Usuall  hight  &  distance  &  inclosing  the  table,  with  a  doore  to  pass 
to  the  table,  convenient  in  some  part  of  the  said  Banisters.  And 
that  the  sd  Bradley  do  make  a  fTorm  answerable  to  the  sd  table  and 
a  Bench  of  Plank  sufficient  to  sitt  upon  in  the  Roome  &  place  of 
the  bench  that  now  is.    Also  a  Chaire  for  the  President  of  the  Court 

71 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


at  the  upper  End  of  the  table  next  the  shed,  and  lastly  that  he  raise 
and  Enlarge  the  Back  Window  of  the  Court  house  next  the  Orchard 
and  make  one  more  window  on  the  same  side  (4  ft.  sq.)  and  to  fill 
up  the  back  doore  of  the  said  Roome  if  it  shall  hereafter  seem  nec- 
essary for  wch  sd  Work  (he  shall  be  allowed)  1 100  lbs  of  Tobb  & 
Cask  Convenient." 

While  doing  this  work  he  was  to  have  his  "  dyett  & 
Lodging  with  Peter  Tayler  "  (who  was  to  be  paid  later). 

At  this  Court  were  present  Colonel  John  Stone,  Cap- 
tain Sam'l  Blomfield,  Captain  Geo.  Tayler,  Mr.  Jas.  Har- 
rison, Mr.  H'y  Awbrey,  and  Mr.  Sam'l  Peachey. 

A  comparison  of  the  furniture  imported  by  the  wealthy 
settlers  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  with  the  contemporary 
furniture  used  in  England  will  only  prove  again  that  Eng- 
lish life  was  transplanted  as  far  as  was  possible  to  the  shores 
of  the  glittering  Chesapeake.  In  many  respects  the  planter 
lived  as  does  the  English  country  gentleman  to-day.  His 
was  a  life  of  ease  and  pleasure  and  generous  hospitality,  but 
not  of  idleness.  The  interests  of  the  land-owner  and 
planter  were  enormous,  and  his  duties  as  importer  and 
merchant  were  not  less  significant.  We  have  already  seen 
that  ships  landed  their  wares  at  the  foot  of  his  lawn;  but  we 
have  not  mentioned  that  with  the  gift  that  the  English 
possess  of  making  attractive  homes  in  any  strange  land,  the 
settlers  of  the  South  spared  neither  thought  nor  pains  to 
surround  themselves  with  comforts  and  beauty.  For  ex- 
ample, one  George  Menifie  came  to  Virginia  in  1623,  and 
in  1634  we  find  him  living  at  Littleton  on  the  James 
River,  not  far  below  Jamestown,  with  a  large  garden  that 
"  contained  fruits  of  Holland  and  Roses  of  Provence  ;  his 
orchard  was  planted  with  apple,  pear  and  cherry  trees  ;  and 
he  cultivated  here  the  first  peach  trees  introduced  into  Amer- 

72 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ica.  Around  the  house  grew,  in  the  fashion  of  the  time, 
rosemary,  thyme  and  marjoram." 

What  we  have  already  said  with  regard  to  the  homes 
and  living  of  the  Virginians  and  Marylanders  is  em- 
phasized by  the  words  of  Mr.  Thomas  Nelson  Page  : 
"  Virginia  was  settled  with  a  strong  English  feeling  in- 
grained in  her,  with  English  customs  and  habits  of  life, 
with  English  ideas,  modified  only  to  suit  the  conditions  of 
life  here.  Among  the  chief  factors  which  influenced  Vir- 
ginia life,  and  moulded  it  in  its  peculiar  form,  were  this 
English  feeling  (which  was  almost  strong  enough  to  call  a 
race  feeling)  ;  the  aristocratic  tendency  ;  the  happy  combi- 
nation of  soil,  climate  and  agricultural  product  (tobacco), 
which  made  them  an  agricultural  people,  and  enabled  them 
to  support  a  generous  style  of  living  as  landed  gentry  ;  the 
Church  with  its  strong  organization ;  and  the  institution  of 
slavery." 

So  far,  we  have  dealt  with  Virginia  and  Maryland  ex- 
clusively, but  in  the  meantime  the  proprietary  government 
of  South  Carolina  had  been  established,  and  along  the 
Ashley  River  much  the  same  conditions  prevailed.  All 
the  early  explorers  of  the  southern  coast  refer  in  enthusias- 
tic terms  to  the  magnificent  forests  of  that  region.  They 
speak  of  the  quality  and  variety  of  the  splendid  timber — 
oak,  ash,  cypress,  walnut,  bay,  maple,  poplar,  cedar,  hick- 
ory, birch,  elm,  laurel  and  holly. 

The  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  who  was  so  active  in  planting 
the  new  colony,  regarded  timber  as  an  important  source  of 
profit.  In  his  instructions  for  Mr.  Andrew  Percevall,  dated 
from  Exeter  House,  May  23,  1674,  we  read  :  "You  are 
to  send  me  word  what  trees  fit  for  masts  and  to  what  big- 
ness and  length  you  have  any  there,  and  at  what  distance 

73 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


from  water  carriage,  and  to  send  me  samples  of  the  timber 
of  your  mast  trees,  and  of  any  dyeing  drugs  or  any  sort  of 
timber  of  woods  that  is  finely  grained  or  scented  that  you 
think  may  be  fit  for  cabinets  and  such  other  fine  works." 

In  his  True  Relation  of  a  Voyage  (1663),  William 
Hilton  reports:  "The  lands  are  laden  with  oaks,  walnut 
and  bays,  except  facing  on  the  sea,  it  is  most  pines  tall  and 
good." 

The  household  goods  carried  by  the  first  settlers  were 
the  same  as  had  been  the  case  in  Virginia,  as  appears  from 
"An  account  of  the  costs  of  the  cloaths  bought  for  the 
present  expedition  to  Carolina,  1669."     It  includes: 

£  s.  d. 

100  beds,  rugs  and  pillows  at  8s  6d  .  42-10-0 
1  leather  bed  ....  1-10-0 

30  hamocks  at  1  id    .        .        .        .  2—14—0 

In  1 67 1  Shaftesbury  sent  a  small  chest  with  three  locks 
to  Sir  John  Yeamans  on  the  Ashley  River,  and  many  other 
instances  of  his  care  are  to  be  found. 

North  Carolina  differed  from  her  sister  State  where  so 
many  Puritans,  Huguenots  and  Quakers  settled.  Almost 
exclusively  economic  motives  led  various  discontented  men 
to  leave  Virginia  and  make  new  homes  for  themselves  in 
the  woods  of  North  Carolina.  They  were  political  rather 
than,  religious  refugees.  After  the  suppression  of  Bacon's 
rebellion  in  1676,  that  region  became  the  "  Common  sub- 
terfuge and  lurking-place"  of  those  "Rogues,  runaways  and 
rebels"  who  objected  to  the  severe  rule  of  Sir  William 
Berkeley  in  Virginia.  For  a  long  time  that  settlement 
was  backward  and  neglected.  The  attention  of  the  people 
at  home  was  directed  almost  exclusively  to  the  plantations 
on  the  Ashley  River.     Under  such  circumstances  the  houses 

74 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  household  goods  were  rough  and  primitive.  For  fifty 
years  there  were  no  towns.  Bath  was  the  first  to  be  incor- 
porated (1704),  and  in  1709  it  had  only  "about  twelve 
houses." 

The  Ashley  River  settlement  soon  rivaled  Virginia  and 
Maryland  in  wealth  and  prosperity,  and  the  homes  of  the 
planters  offered  equal  evidence  of  comfort  and  luxury. 
The  inventory  of  Richard  Phillips  (1695)  among  other 
things  mentions  "  Three  standing  bedsteads,  flock  bed  bol- 
ster and  cradle  bed,  four  tables,  two  joint-stools,  twelve 
Turkey-work  chairs."  The  furniture  came  direct  from 
England  and  the  conditions  of  trade  were  very  much  the 
same  as  in  Virginia. 


THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR  fH^lif 
FOREFATHERS 


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THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR 

FOREFATHERS 


By  ESTHER  SINGLETON 

WITH  CRITICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  PLATES 
By  RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ILLUSTRATED 


MEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAX  PAGE  AMD  COMPANY 
i     9      o  i 


COPYRIGHT,  1901,  BY 
DOUBLEDAY,    PAGE   &  CO, 


CONTENTS 


The  Early  Days  of  the  Settlement  of  Phila- 
delphia    ......       79—8 1 

Its  prosperity;  economic  and  social  conditions;    mode  of  liv- 
ing, etc.,  etc. 

William  Penn  :  His  House  and  Furniture  82—86 
The  Estates  of: 

John  Simcock,  86;   William  Lewis,  87;  John  Moore,  88; 
John  Jones,  88. 

Francis  Daniel  Pastorius,  Founder  of  German- 
town         .......  89 

His  estate,  90. 

Baron  Stiegel's  House  and  Furnishings      .        .  90 
The  Estate  of  Governor  Patrick  Gordon       9 1  —9 3 
James  Logan's  House,  "  Stenton,"  and  its  Fur- 
nishings   .        .        .        .        .        .  -94 

Description  of  Furniture  Belonging  to  Various 

Persons     ......  94—96 

Letter  from  Franklin  to  his  Wife  Regarding 

Household  Furniture  .  .  .  97—99 
Advertisements  of  the  Period,  1729,  Showing 

"Latest  Fashions"  in  Furniture  .  .100 
The  Clockmakers  of  Philadelphia  .  .  .  102 
The  Bed      .        .        .        .        .        .        .  .10? 

Decorative  effects  of  hangings  and  furniture ;  extract  from 
Miss  Sarah  Eve's  journal  regarding  the  same ;  letter  from 
Mrs.  Franklin  to  her  husband  describing  furnishings  of  her 
house,  104. 


CONTENTS 


Furniture,  Conditions,  Etc., 

In  South  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Maryland  during  Revolution- 
ary days,  1 08  ;  prosperity  of  the  planters  of  the  period,  109. 


The  Inventories  and  Estates  of  Various 

Per- 

sons  ...... 

I  O 

Famous   Houses   of    the    First    Half  of 

the 

Eighteenth  Century 

1  5 

Glimpses  into  the  Interior  of  Mansions  of 

THE 

Period  ...... 

I  l6- 

[  20 

Inventory   of  Table   Goods  and   Chattels  of 

Joseph  Wragg,  Esq^.  . 

• 

i  25 

Amusements  of  the  Planters 

126 

1  he  card  table  and  its  furnishings,  127;  shuffle-board; 

back- 

gammon-tables;  checker-boards,  etc.,  etc.,  128. 

Various  Tables  ...... 

[29 

Their  values,  129;  tea-table  furnishings,  132-134. 

China  ....... 

130- 

[  7 1 

Silverware,  Plate,  and  Table  Furnishings 

132-] 

Chairs  of  the  Period  .... 

1 34- 

[  1  0 

j  y 

Their  prices,  shapes,  materials,  etc.,  etc. 

The  Table  ....... 

J39- 

[40 

The  Carpet  ...... 

[44 

The  Cupboard  ...... 

[45 

The  Chest  of  Drawers  .... 

146 

The  Clock  ....... 

[46 

Pictures  and  Maps  ..... 

■47 

Mahogany  ....... 

148 

General  Remarks  Regarding  Furniture  of 

THE 

Period  ...... 

49 

Furniture  in  Louisiana  .... 

[52 

List  of  Illustrations 


WITH  CRITICAL  NOTES  ON  MANY  OF 
THE      PLATES      BY      RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ALL    THE    NOTES    FURNISHED    BY    MR.  STURGIS 
ARE   FOLLOWED    BY    HIS  INITIALS,    R.  S. 


Frontispiece        .....       facing  iii 

Washington's  bed-room  at  Mount  Vernon,  with  all  the  original  furniture. 

Chest  with  Bands  of  Stamped  Iron  Work    facing  79 

Chest  with  straps  of  iron  for  strength  and  for  ornament.  Such  pieces  were  made  in 
Spain  and  Portugal  as  early  as  the  sixteenth  century,  and  if  this  is  of  the  eighteenth 
century  it  is  a  survival,  the  old  pattern  being  kept  in  mind  or  reproduced  in  a  provincial 
region  or  in  a  foreign  country.  The  iron  work  is  all  in  thin  sheet  metal  (originally 
tinned)  beaten  up  from  below  and  chased  on  the  surface  and  secured  to  the  planks  by 
clenched  nails  whose  heads  form  a  part  ot  the  design.  The  two  large  bolt-heads  near  the 
front  edge  of  the  top  in  the  middle  show  where  the  striking-plate  or  holder  of  the  lock  is 
secured;  the  lock  itself,  being  safely  inside  of  the  chest  and  only  to  be  got  at  by  cutting 
the  wood  away,  has  been  thought  not  to  need  special  fastenings.  The  handles,  large  and 
heavy  and  meant  for  the  grasp  of  two  hands  upon  each  handle,  are  an  important  part  of 
the  decoration.  The  charm  of  the  piece  is,  however,  in  the  very  spirited  semi-oriental 
design  of  the  iron  straps.     R.  S. 

Philadelphia  in  1700.    From  a  Very  Old  Paint- 
ing in  the  Philadelphia  Library        .  .81 

William  Penn's  Desk,  and  an  Historical  Chair 

facing  82 

Desk  with  hinged  cover  or  flap  to  form  writing  table,  with  moulding  to  retain  it  in  place, 
the  two  pieces  evidently  intended  for  one  another;  the  brasses  apparently  original.  This 
excellent  specimen  of  simple  and  utilitarian  design  would  seem  to  be  of  the  earliest  years 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  but  for  the  overlapping  front  of  the  drawer;  moreover  a  piece 
so  devoid  of  ornament  must  needs  be  hard  to  date.  Long  established  residents  of  Barn- 
stable, Dedham  and  Quinsy,  as  well  as  the  old  families  of  Pennsylvania,  had  such  pieces  as 
this  in  common  use  as  late  as  1850;  and  the  traditions  of  origin  for  such  pieces  are  almost 
valueless.  Such  a  piece  as  this  with  its  brasses  and  all  complete  might  have  been  made 
anywhere  from  1750  to  1820 — according  to  the  opportunities  possessed  by  the  local 
joiner  of  seeing  imported  furniture. 

Windsor  armchair  with  revolving  seat  and  attached  reading-desk.  The  pattern  is  of 
about  1770  though  the  carved  arms  suggest  a  somewhat  earlier  date.  It  was  used  by 
Thomas  Jefferson  while  writing  ihe  Declaration  of  Independence.  See  what  is  said  of 
similar  chairs  in  this  division  of  the  work. 

The  student  should  observe  the  difference  between  the  writing-desk  on  the  right  arm  of  a 
chair,  suggesting  pencil  notes  made  hastily,  and  the  desk  mounted  on  the  left  arm,  which 
is  nearly  always  made  to  swing  in  a  pivot  and  may  be  drawn  to  any  position  in  front  of  the 
person  using  it.     R.  S. 


vii 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Two  Chairs  of  William  Penn's  .        .        .  -85 

One  has  a  cane  back  and  seat  with  arms  and  turned  rails  and  legs  with  fluted  feet  ;  the 
other  is  a  good  example  of  the  chair  common  in  the  first  years  of  the  century  under  the 
Dutch  influence,  with  slightly  cabriole  legs  and  hoof  feet. 

William  Penn's  Secretary         .        .       facing  86 

From  Pennsbury  Mansion.     Owned  by  the  Philadelphia  Library  Co.    (The  top  moulding 
has  been  restored. ) 

Two  Early  Eighteenth  Century  Chairs  .        .  87 

Armchair  (the  left-hand  one)  the  close  of  seventeenth  or  first  quarter  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  High-backed  chairs  and  armchairs  which  are  distinguished  by  horizontal  slats 
which  form  the  back,  seem  to  have  been  commonly  described  as  "three-back"  chairs, 
"five-back"  chairs,  etc.,  according  to  the  number  of  these  pieces.  Armchair  (the 
right-hand  one)  of  about  1700,  but  remodelled  at  a  subsequent  time,  probably  to  secure  a 
lower  seat  than  was  thought  practicable  or  reasonable  at  the  original  date.     R.  S. 

Spinet  or  Clavichord         .        .        .       facing  90 

Spinet  or  clavichord  ;  the  case  supported  upon  two  frames  of  two  legs  each,  the  straining- 
pieces  connected  bv  a  longitudinally  fitted  board  adjusted  into  uprights.  This  admirable 
piece  illustrates  well  the  simple  designing  of  a  time  when,  partly  from  the  influence  of 
Puritanism  and  partly  from  the  accepted  doctrine  that  ornament  should  be  architectural 
and  formal,  the  older  and  more  richly  adorned  designs  have  been  abandoned.  The  turned 
legs  would  suggest  a  date  as  late  as  1740,  but  an  earlier  epoch  is  suggested  by  the  delicate 
chamfers  of  the  horizontal  straining-pieces,  and  especially  by  the  stopped  chamfering  of 
their  upper  edges.     R.  S. 

Charleston  Room  with   Eighteenth  Century 

Bed      ......       facing  92 

In  the  house  of  Mrs.  Andrew  Simonds. 

A  Table      ........  94 

Table  of  make  so  simple  that  there  are  no  characteristics  which  could  determine  the  date 
except  the  brasses,  which,  if  the  original  ones,  as  is  stated  and  as  is  probable,  would,  by 
the  character  of  the  pierced  escutcheons,  fix  the  date  at  about  1760.     R.  S. 

A  Chair  and  Communion  Table         .        .  -97 

A  chair  and  communion  table  belonging  to  the  early  part  of  the  century.  They  are 
from  Donegal,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  date  from  1722.  Both  pieces  are  common  types 
in  use  in  England  and  the  colonies  during  the  seventeenth  and  early  eighteenth  cen- 
turies, and  were  to  be  found  in  any  ordinary  house  ;  there  is  nothing  distinctively  ec- 
clesiastical about  them.     The  silver  communion  cups  are  also  plain  and  severe. 

Two  Effective  Eighteenth  Century  Chairs      .  99 

Armchair  with  turned  legs,  straining-pieces  and  balusters,  date  undetermined,  as  such 
simple  designs  were  constantly  followed  by  workmen  in  the  small  towns  ;  perhaps  1780. 
The  bars  turned  into  egg-shaped  units  set  end  to  end  are  probably  the  feeble  efforts  of 
workmen  who  could  not  produce  the  spirals.  They  have  an  obvious  connection  with  the 
beaded  astragal  of  the  architects,  and  this  fact  may  have  helped  to  establish  the  fashion. 
Chair,  bandy-legged  and  with  claw  feet  delicately  carved  in  the  taste  of  Chippendale's 
simpler  work  and  probably  from  his  workshop  about  1750.     R.  S. 

John  Dickinson's  Reading-desk;  and  Two  Early 

Chairs  .....       facing  ioo 

Owned  by  the  Philadelphia  Library  Co. 

viii 


LIST    OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Two  Eighteenth  Century  Chairs      .        .        .  101 

Chair,  about  1740  with  rush  seat.  The  simple  designs  of  the  time  do  not  neea  carv- 
ing, inlaying  or  delicate  workmanship  to  make  them  attractive.  If  to-day  a  skilful 
workman  would  enlarge  the  seat  and  modify  the  curvature  of  the  back  until,  by  careful 
experiment  he  should  reach  the  proper  form  of  a  dining-room  chair,  nothing  but  good 
workmanship  and  finish  and  the  retention  of  the  original  curves  would  be  necessary. 
Armchair  with  bandy-legs  and  claw  feet,  about  1780.  The  back  was  not  originally  up- 
holstered.   The  upholstered  seat  has  lost  its  original  covering.    R.  S. 

Chair  and  Card  Table       .        .        .        .  .108 

The  pieces  belonged  to  Hon.  Jasper  Yeates,  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania  from  1 79 1— 1  817.  Both  pieces  are  of  walnut.  The  chair  is  Dutch  in 
character,  squat  in  appearance  and  with  cabriole  legs  with  claw  and  ball  feet,  and  shell 
ornaments.  The  folding  table  has  also  cabriole  legs  with  eagle  claw  and  ball  feet.  The 
two  pieces  are  now  owned  by  Dr.  John  H.  Brinton  of  Philadelphia,  the  great-grand- 
son of  Jasper  Yeates. 

Library  Chair  of  Benjamin  Franklin       facing  108 

A  chair  which  may  be  used  as  a  step-ladder  by  turning  up  the  seat.  Formerly  belonging 
to  Benjamin  Franklin,  it  is  now  used  as  chair  for  the  president  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society. 

Table  and  Two  Chairs  .        .        .     facing  112 

The  chairs  and  table  belonged  originally  to  Mr.  Philip  Tabb  of  Toddsbury,  the  old 
Tabb  homestead  on  North  River,  Gloucester  Co.,  Va.,  and  were  given  by  Dr.  John 
Prosser  Tabb  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Perrin. 

Lord  Dunmore's  Chair       .        .        .        .        .  1  1 3 

This  chair  of  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  is  preserved  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
in  the  house  of  the  Colonial  Dames.  It  belonged  to  the  last  Colonial  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, Lord  Dunmore. 

Shaving-glass  and  Chest  of  Drawers        facing  r  1 6 

Shaving-glass  with  drawers.  Middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Interesting  because 
covered  with  ornament  in  lacquer,  stated  to  be  Chinese.  Such  pieces  were  imported 
from  China  and  also  from  Japan  through  the  Dutch  settlement  at  Kagosima.  Also 
in  Holland  during  the  seventeenth  century  and  as  late  as  1750  the  lacquer  decora- 
tion of  the  Japanese  was  imitated  in  a  way  not  deceptive  but  capable  of  considerable  ef- 
fect. The  pieces  lacquered  in  Japan  were  evidently  made  by  Europeans  and  it  is 
thought  that  many  of  them  were  sent  out  from  Holland,  complete  except  for  the  surface 
adornment  and  brought  back  when  completed.     R.  S. 

Mahogany  Card  Table  and  Two  Chairs    facing  i  18 

These  chairs  belonged  to  Colonel  John  Mayo  of  Belleville,  inherited  through  John  de 
Hart,  one  of  the  members  of  the  Continental  Congress  (1774-5—6],  and  attorney- 
general  of  New  Jersey.     The  table  is  about  150  years  old. 

Desk,  Dressing-Table  and  Two  Chairs       .  .119 

These  four  pieces  are  from  Lafayette's  Room,  Mount  Vernon. 

Desk  and  Chair  .....       facing  122 

Desk  or  secretary  with  drawers  ;  the  step  in  development  next  after  the  old  chest  or 
drawers  of  which  few  examples  remain.  Such  pieces  were  made  of  applewood  or  birch 
stained  red  when  mahogany  was  considered  too  costly,  but  there  exist  solid  mahogany  and 

i  \ 


UST    OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


also  mahogany  veneered  pieces  very  similar  in  design  and  their  style  varies  little  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  In  this  instance  the  drop -handles  probably 
and  the  casters  certainly  are  modern.  Corner  chair  or  roundabout  chair  of  about  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.     R.  S. 

Four  Interesting  Chairs    .        .        .        .  -123 

These  chairs  are  in  the  River  Room,  Mount  Vernon.     The  one  next  to  the  extreme 
right  belonged  to  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Wine-Cooler  and  Butler's  Tray         .      facing  126 

Wine-cooler  and  butler's  tray  belonging  to  Mr.  Thomas  Boiling,  Richmond,  Va., 
originally  owned  by  his  great-grandfather,  Thomas  Boiling  of  Cobbs.  On  the  Boiling 
silver  tray  stands  a  Boiling  cream  jug.  The  copper  urn  is  a  Boiling  piece,  and  the 
wine-cooler  is  a  piece  of  Randolph  silver  with  the  coat-of-arms  on  one  side  and  the  crest 
on  the  other.     The  bottle  has  on  its  side  :  "  Boiling  Cobbs,  1772." 

Windsor  Armchair      .        .        .•       .        .  .129 

Windsor  armchair  with  fan-shaped  back  and  supporting  braces  tor  the  back.  The 
pattern  was  introduced  in  America  as  early  as  1770,  but  was  followed  for  many  years 
without  serious  change. 

Three  Mahogany  Pieces      .        .        .      facing  130 

Eighteenth  century  spoon-case,  knife-box  and  tea  caddy. 

Chair  .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  131 

Windsor  armchair  of  an  early  pattern;  fan-shaped  arrangement  of  the  balusters.  This 
piece  is  much  more  elaborate  in  the  pattern  of  its  turning  than  most  Windsor  chairs,  and 
has  also  carved  arms,  which  are  very  unusual.  On  these  accounts  it  should  be  dated 
about  1  750.    R.  S. 

A  Chair  Owned  by  William  Penn      .        .        .  135 

Armchair  with  cane  seat  and  back  ;  a  delicately  finished  piece  of  simple  design.  The 
student  should  notice  the  excellent  turning  of  the  spirals ;  those  of  the  back  are 
singularly  bold,  the  hollow  of  the  spiral  very  deep  and  it  is  possible  that  these  are  of  a 
different  date  from  the  much  less  effective  spirals  of  the  uprights  and  straining-pieces  in 
front. 

Eighteenth  Century  Chair        .        .      facing  137 

Chair  probably  about  1760  by  Thomas  Chippendale  or  some  close  imitation  of  his.  The 
carving  is  very  delicate.  Indeed  the  marked  peculiarity  of  this  piece  is  the  great  sim- 
plicity of  the  main  lines,  as  of  the  frame,  and  the  extreme  delicacy  and  richness  of  the 
carving,  which  is  rather  closely  studied  from  natural  plant-form.     R.  S. 

Bedstead  with  Tester  Valance        .    .    facing  140 

Bedstea'd  in  the  general  style  of  that  shown  in  plate'facing  page  142,  but  with  the  carving 
much  less  elaborate.  The  curtains  are  not  in  place,  but  a  tester  valance,  or  lambrequin 
replaces  them,  probably  to  avoid  the  naked  look  of  the  unused  wooden  framework.  R.  &. 

Bedstead     ......      facing  142 

Bedstead  with  richly  carved  high  posts  and  bars  for  light  curtains  or  mosquito  nets.  This 
is  one  of  several  pieces  in  this  collection  which  are  enriched  by  very  elaborate  carving  of 
a  kind  which,  originating  near  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  continued  to  be  used 
as  late  as  1830  by  those  furniture  makers  who  aimed  at  solidity  and  richness  of  effect. 
Thus  while  Chippendale,  Sheraton  and  Heppelwhite  were  following  the  more  original 
styles  identified  with  their  names,  other  workmen  seem  to  have  gone  back,  continually, 
to  such  elaborate  work  as  is  shown  by  this  plate,  enjoying  as  their  customers  must  have 
done,  the  effect  of- the  carving  in  very  dark  and  heavy  wood.  Compare  plate  facing 
page  140  with  this.     R.  S. 

x 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Dressing-Table  .  .        .      facing  144 

This  mahogany  dressing-table  is  owned  by  Mrs.  Andrew  Simonds,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Mahogany  Chair  and  Dressing-Case  ,        .        .  1 45 

Old  mahogany  chair  and  dressing  case  (very  small)  imported  by  Randolph  of  Curies 
in  1 72 1.  Owned  by  Mrs.  J.  Adair  Pleasants,  Richmond,  Va.  (Original  brass  handles.) 

Two  Eighteenth  Century  Clocks       .      facing  146 

The  tall  clock  as  used  in  France  and  elsewhere  on  the  continent  was  made  the  medium 
of  the  most  elaborate  decoration;  but  English  and  of  course  American  clock  cases  were 
usually  very  simple  in  design  as  in  the  present  cases. 

Tall  clocks,  the  cases  of  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Clocks  in  high 
cases  were  the  natural  successors  of  those  brass  clocks  ( made  of  metal  without  as  well  as 
within)  which  were  in  use  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Those  clocks  were  set  high  on 
the  wall,  supported  on  a  shelf  or  bracket  through  holes  in  which  the  weights  ran  down 
perhaps  nearly  to  the  floor.  They  had  short  pendulums  or  were  driven  by  springs  in 
much  the  same  fashion  as  a  watch.  The  introduction  of  the  long  pendulum  about  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  was  one  cause  of  the  introduction  of  the  tall  case, 
but  the  desire  to  shut  all  the  works  up  from  the  dust  must  have  helped  in  the  movement. 
R.  S. 

Two  Chairs        .        .        .        .        .        .  .148 

Chair  and  armchair;  very  delicately  carved  in  mahogany  ;  date  about  1760.  The  deli- 
cacy of  the  carving  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  these  wete  the  work  of  Thomas  Chip- 
pendale and  from  his  London  workshop,  the  date  about  1750.  The  designs  are  somewhat 
less  intelligently  made,  the  main  lines  less  significant  than  in  Chippendale's  best  work  ;  but 
these  are  very  valuable  pieces,  and  for  effectiveness  of  simple  carving  hard  to  equal.    R.  S.  r 

Eighteenth  Century  Bookcase  .        .  .150 

Bookcase  ;  later  years  of  eighteenth  century.  The  piece  is  interesting  because  of  the 
assertion  in  the  design  as  well  as  in  the  make  that  it  is  a  light  piece  for  a  dwelling-house. 
It  is  intended  to  be  movable  ;  and  accordingly  there  are  handles  to  carry  the  upper  book- 
case proper,  and  also  the  lower  part  with  its  drawers  and  cupboard.  The  smooth  out- 
side without  projecting  members,  with  the  mouldings  expressing  a  structure  of  thin 
uprights  and  horizontals  ;  with  the  curved  fronts  of  the  lower  part  insisting  still  farther 
upon  a  delicate  ,box-like  structure  with  the  reliance  upon  a  beautiful  wood  for  the  effec- 
tiveness of  the  piece,  this  is  a  most  admirably  designed  domestic  bookcase.  There  is  only 
the  pattern  made  by  the  sash  bars  which  is  not  in  perfectly  good  taste.    R.  S. 

Some  Old  New  Orleans  Pieces        .        .  facing  150 

Ladies'  working-table,  liquor  set  and  Russian  Samovar.  The  ladies'  work-table  is  ex- 
ceedingly curious.  Of  the  Louis  XIV  period,  it  is  made  of  ebony,  veneered  with  tortoise- 
shell  and  inlaid  with  brass.  The  drawers  have  secret  bottoms.  The  liquor  set,  which 
is  very  rare,  is  an  ebony  case  inlaid  with  nacre  and  bronze.  The  bottles  and  glasses  are 
crystal  with  inlaid  gold.  A  present  to  Marigny  by  Governor  Villere.  The  two 
chandeliers  of  solid  silver,  in  the  Louis  XIV  style,  were  presents  from  Tolendano  to 
Marigny. 

The  ancient  Russian  bronze  Samovar  has  a  tube  in  the  cover,  through  which  a  red- 
hot  iron  is  placed  to  keep  the  beverage  warm. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Part  II 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Part  II:  Later  SoutKern 

OAK,    WALNUT    AND    EARLY  MAHOGANY 

HE  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  Philadel- 
phia  were   uniformly   prosperous.  There 

Twere  no  Indian  massacres,  nor  famines,  nor 
111  domestic  strife  to  hinder  progress  as  in  the 
infancy  of  Virginia.  Respectable  working- 
men  found  a  hearty  welcome,  and,  when 
they  could  not  pay  their  own  way,  they  could  work  under 
indentures  and  at  the  end  of  their  time  start  on  their  own 
account  with  good  prospects. 

Men  of  wealth  accompanied  and  followed  Penn  to  his 
haven  of  quietude  in  the  woods  of  the  west,  and  many  of  the 
small  yeomen  class  of  English  who  had  a  little  money  of 
their  own,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  improve  their  condition 
and  worship  as  they  pleased  without  molestation. 

The  way  was  prepared  in  a  measure  for  the  new  settlers 
by  the  Swedes  who  were  already  established  in  the  region. 

79 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  condition  of  the  latter  is  described  by  T.  Paskel,  who 
in  1683  writes  : 

"  There  are  some  Swedes  and  Finns  who  have  lived 
here  forty  years,  and  live  an  easy  life  through  the  abun- 
dance of  commodities,  but  their  clothes  were  very  mean 
before  the  coming  of  the  English,  from  whom  they  have 
bought  good  ones,  and  they  begin  to  show  themselves  a  lit- 
tle proud.  They  are  an  industrious  people.  They  employ 
in  their  building  little  or  no  iron.  They  will  build  for 
you  a  house  without  any  implement  than  an  axe.  With 
the  same  implement  they  will  cut  down  a  tree,  and  have 
it  in  pieces  in  less  time  than  two  other  men  would  spend 
in  sawing  it,  and  with  this  implement  and  some  wooden 
wedges  they  split  and  make  boards  of  it,  or  anything  else 
they  please  with  much  skill.  The  most  of  them  speak 
English,  Swedish,  Finnish  and  Dutch  .  .  .  The  woods  are 
full  of  oaks,  very  high  and  straight.  Many  are  about  two 
feet  in  diameter  and  some  even  more,  and  a  Swede  will 
cut  down  for  you  a  dozen  of  the  largest  in  a  day.  We 
have  here  beautiful  poplars,  beeches,  ash,  linden,  fir,  goose- 
berry, sassafras,  chestnut,  hazelnut,  mulberry  and  walnut 
trees,  but  few  cedars  and  pines." 

There  is  very  little  trace  of  distinctive  Swedish  furniture, 
as  might  be  expected  from  the  above  contemporary  account 
of  (^ueen  Christina's  subjects.  There  is,  however,  a  curious 
"Swedish"  chest  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Philadelphia, 
here  reproduced.  The  wood  is  quite  plain  and  destitute  of 
carving,  and  the  only  ornamentation  consists  of  bands  of 
tinned  iron  work,  stamped  and  perforated  in  a  conventional 
floral  pattern — as  was  the  custom  in  Spanish  and  Portu- 
guese work.    (See  Mr.  Sturgis's  note  on  this  picture.) 

At  Philadelphia  the  first  arrivals  lived  in  caves  along 

80 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  river  banks  until  they  could  put  up  wooden  houses. 
In  his  Annals  of  Philadelphia,  Watson  gives  an  instance  of 
a  woman  named  Elizabeth  Hard  who  came  to  Philadel- 
phia with  Penn  and  joined  her  sister  "in  a  cave  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,"  and  relates  that  one  of  her  descendants 
showed  him  a  napkin  made  from  flax  spun  in  that  cave  by 
Elizabeth  Hard  and  woven  by  the  Germans  in  German- 
town,  and  "a  very  pretty  chair,  low  and  small,  which  had 
been  a  sitting  chair  in  that  cave." 

Persecution  and  want  in  the  Old  World  started  an  ex- 
odus of  men  and  women  to  the  wilderness  regardless  of 
creature  comforts  left  behind,  but  some  of  the  wealthier 
emigrants  did  not  start  from  England  until  careful, 
quaintly  specified  preparations  had  been  made  for  their  re- 
ception by  relatives  and  friends  already  in  the  colony. 

A  considerable  amount  of  household  goods  was  taken 
out  by  such  settlers  in  Perm's  Woods,  and  the  houses  rapidly 
improved  in  construction  and  convenience.  Brick  was  used 
in  building  within  two  years. 


PHILADELPHIA   IN  I72O 
From  a  very  old  painting  in  the  Philadelphia  Library. 


Thus  Philadelphia  became  a  flourishing  town  in  an 
astonishingly  short  space  of  time.  Six  hundred  houses, 
many  of  them  substantial  edifices  built  of  home-made  brick 
after  English  models,  sprang  up  within  three  years,  and 

.Si 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


within  fifteen  years  of  its  settlement,  the  district  contained 
many  prosperous  planters  and  merchants. 

Penn  took  the  greatest  interest  in  preparing  his  home 
in  the  New  World.  His  letters  to  James  Harrison,  his 
chief  steward,  or  agent,  from  1 68 1  to  1687,  are  full  of  in- 
structions regarding  furniture. 

In  1685  he  writes  that  "a  Dutchman,  joiner  and  car- 
penter," is  coming  "that  is  to  work  one  hundred  and  fifty 
days,  and  pay  me  ^5  or  J^y  country,  money,  for  £7  sterling 
lent  him.  Let  him  wainscot  and  make  tables  and  stands  : 
but  chiefly  help  on  the  outhouses,  because  we  shall  bring 
much  furniture."  A  month  later:  "  Get  some  wooden  chairs 
of  walnut  with  long  backs,  and  two  or  three  eating  tables  for 
twelve,  eight  and  five  persons,  with  falling  leaves  to  them." 

The  tract  of  Pennsbury,  in  Bucks  County,  bought  from 
an  Indian  chief  and  originally  called  Sepessin,  contained,  in 
1684,  about  3431  acres. 

The  substantial  brick  house,  sixty  feet  front,  forty  feet 
deep  and  two  stories  and  a  half  high,  was  embellished  with 
materials  imported  from  England  and  was  built  in  1682-3. 
Little  wonder  that  the  colonists  referred  to  it  as  the 
palace!  Several  rooms  opened  into  the  large  hall  for 
meetings  with  the  Council,  entertainments,  and  pow-wows 
with  the  Indians.  The  kitchen,  like  the  Southern  kitchens, 
was  in  an  outer  building.  The  stable  had  room  for  twelve 
horses.  The  lawn,  which  was  terraced  to  the  river,  and 
the  grounds  and  gardens,  were  very  beautiful.  Indeed, 
most  of  the  wealthy  colonists  aimed  to  duplicate  in  this  New 
World  the  fine  estates  they  had  left  in  England.  Trees, 
shrubs,  hardy  herbaceous  plants,  seeds,  sun-dials  and  garden 
tools  they  imported  constantly.  Every  traveller  of  the 
period  (including  Peter  Kalm,  the  Swedish  botanist)  men- 

g2 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


tions  the  beautiful  gardens  around  the  homes  in  and  near 
Philadelphia.  Penn  had  a  coach,  a  calash,  and  a  sedan- 
chair,  but  he  preferred  travelling  to  the  city  in  his  barge. 

But  let  us  see  of  what  Penn's  furniture  consisted.  The 
great  hall  contained  one  long  table  and  two  forms,  six 
chairs,  five  mazarins  (i.  e.,  mazers,  or  bowls),  two  cisterns, 
and  "  sundries  others,"  and  many  pewter  dishes.  The 
little  hall  was  furnished  with  six  leather  chairs  and  five 
maps.  In  the  "  best  parlour  "  were  two  tables,  one  couch, 
two  great  cane  chairs  and  four  small  cane  chairs,  and  a 
number  of  cushions,  four  of  which  were  of  satin  and  three 
of  green  plush.  The  other  parlour  was  furnished  with 
two  tables,  six  chairs,  one  great  leather  chair,  one  clock, 
and  "a  pair  of  brasses."  Going  upstairs,  we  find  that  the 
"  best  chamber  "  contains  a  bed  and  bedding,  "  a  suit  of  satin 
curtains,"  and  "  sundry  tables,  stands  and  cane  chairs." 
The  next  chamber  has  in  it  a  bed  and  bedding,  six  cane 
chairs  and  "a  suit  of  camblet  curtains."  Next  to  this  is 
another  bedroom,  with  one  wrought  bed  and  bedding 
and  six  wooden  chairs.  The  nursery  contains  "one  pallet 
bed,  two  chairs  of  Master  John,  and  sundries  ;  "  and  in 
the  next  chamber  we  find  a  bed  and  bedding,  "  one  suit 
of  striped  linen  curtains,  four  rush-bottomed  chairs,  etc." 

The  garret  holds  "  four  bedsteads,  two  beds,  three  side- 
saddles— one  of  them  my  mother's — two  pillions."  In 
the  closet  and  best  chamber  there  are  "  bed  and  bedding, 
two  silk  blankets  and  white  curtains,  also  two  damask  cur- 
tains for  windows,  six  cane  chairs,  one  hanging  press." 
In  the  kitchen  there  is  mention  of  "a  grate  iron,  one  pair 
of  racks,  three  spits,  and  one  pair  of  great  dogs."  There 
was  much  plate  in  the  house.  Penn  lived  here  only  one 
year,    1700—  1.      His  secretary,  now  in  the  Philadelphia 

85 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Library  Co.'s  rooms,  is  made  of  English  oak.  This  was 
originally  in  the  Pennsbury  house. 

William  Penn's  clock  is  also  shown  in  the  Philadel- 
phia Library.  Its  case  is  oak  inlaid,  and  a  piece  of  bull's- 
eye  glass  is  inserted  in  front  of  the  pendulum.  The  clock 
was  an  importation  ;  the  spiral  columns  at  the  sides  of 
the  dial  were  a  favourite  design  for  the  long-case  clocks. 

"Towards  the  end  of  Charles  IPs  reign,"  we  learn 
from  F.  J.  Britten's  Old  Clocks  arid  Watches  (London, 
1899),  "the  brass  chamber  clock  with  a  wooden  hood 
developed  into  the  long-case  eight-day  variety,  now  famil- 
iarly termed  'grandfather,'  and  veritable  specimens  of  that 
period,  though  rare,  are  occasionally  met  with.  In  the 
earliest  the  escapement  was  governed  by  either  the  two- 
armed  balance  with  weights,  or  by  a  'bob'  pendulum; 
the  long,  or  'royal'  pendulum  came  into  general  use  about 
1680.  Some  of  these  primitive  grandfathers  were  exceed- 
ingly narrow  in  the  waist,  only  just  sufficient  width  being 
allowed  for  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  weights.  A  curious 
addition  to  these  cases  is  sometimes  seen  in  the  form  of 
wings  or  projections  on  each  side  of  the  waist,  to  permit 
the  swing  of  a  'royal '  pendulum.  Sheraton  seems  to  have 
suggested  a  revival  of  these  wings." 

There  is  a  clock  in  the  Philadelphia  Public  Library 
which  belonged  to  William  Hudson,  Mayor  of  Phila- 
delphia in  1725-26.  His  father  purchased  it  at  a  sale  in 
London,  where  the  auctioneer  stated  that  the  time-piece 
had  once  belonged  to  Oliver  Cromwell. 

The  chair  from  Pennsbury,  reproduced  on  page  135, 
has  a  cane  back  and  seat,  with  turned  supports  and  rails. 

In  Independence  Hall  are  two  other  chairs  of  walnut 
that  belonged  to  William  Penn.     One  has  a  cane  back  and 

84 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


TWO  CHAIRS  OF   WILLIAM  PENN'S 
In  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia. 


seat  with  arms  and  turned  rails,  and  legs  with  fluted  feet ; 
the  other  is  a  good  example  of  the  chair  common  in  the 
first  years  of  the  century  under  the  Dutch  influence,  with 
slightly  cabriole  legs  and  hoof  feet. 

A  desk  of  Penn's  is  in  the  collection  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania.  It  is  of  walnut,  solid 
and  heavy.  The  only  attempt  at  decoration  is  in  the 
curves  into  which  the  front  bar  is  cut,  and  the  cabriole 
legs  with  hoofed  feet.  A  long,  deep  drawer  runs  the  whole 
length  of  the  desk  below  the  flap.  It  is  fitted  with  brass 
handles  and  key  plates.    See  plate  facing  page  82. 

One  of  our  illustrations  (page  87)  shows  examples  of 

85 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


rush-bottomed  and  cane  chairs  that  so  constantly  occur  in 
the  colonists'  inventories  at  this  period.  The  legs  and 
arms  are  curved  and  turned.  The  one  on  the  left  has  the 
inscription  : 

"  /  know  not  ivhere, 
I  know  not  when, 
But  in  this  chair 
Sat  William  Penn." 

These  two  specimens  are  also  in  the  Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Even  prior  to  1700  the  house  of  the  well-to-do  planter 
in  Pennsylvania  was  by  no  means  bare  or  lacking  in  com- 
fort, but  we  miss  the  army  of  chairs  and  the  china  that 
were  to  be  found  in  the  colonies  further  south.  There  is 
an  atmosphere  of  greater  reserve  and  less  liberal  hospitality 
in  the  household  goods  of  Penn's  followers  than  we  feel  in 
Virginia,  Maryland  and  Carolina.  The  furniture,  however, 
is  evidently  the  same,  both  in  style  and  material,  and  most 
of  it  comes  from  England. 

Estates  of  more  than  a  thousand  pounds  in  value  were 
quite  numerous  in  the  early  years  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. Among  others,  John  Simcock  (died  in  1703)  may 
be  cited.  His  possessions  were  valued  at  more  than  £1  500, 
but  unfortunately  the  only  object  in  household  use  men- 
tioned is  a  silver  tankard,  ^14.  Of  men  in  more  moder- 
ate circumstances  we  have  many  examples.  There  is 
Abraham  Hooper,  a  joiner  (1707).  His  "shop  goods" 
would  undoubtedly  include  the  rougher  kinds  of  home- 
made tables  and  chairs.  His  dwelling  and  the  lot  it  stood 
on  were  valued  at  £325  '■>  household  goods  and  shop  goods, 
^246;  tools,  ^54;  walnut,  cedar,  pine  and  oak,  £22. 
He  was  worth  nearly  £joo  in  all.    Then  we  have  Wil- 

86 


■ 


WILLIAM  PENN'S  SECRETARY 

From  Pennsbury  Mansion ;  nozv  in  the  Philadelphia  Public  Library.     (The  top  moulding  has  been  restored.) 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


liam  Lewis,  in  1708,  who  was  some  £200  poorer.  He 
was  a  Welshman,  and  it  would  seem  that  the  appraiser  of 
his  goods  was  one  of  his  own  countrymen,  or  else  a  wag 
who  carried  his  jesting  even  into  the  spelling  of  court 
records.  We  remember  how  Fluellen  speaks  of  "the  poys 
and  the  luggage,"  "the  pragging  knave,  who  prings  me 


TWO    EARLY   EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY  ARMCHAIRS 
The  chair  to  the  left  belonged  to  William  Penn.     The  right-hand  one  has  been  remodelled. 


pread,"  and  "a  prave  pattle."  Besides  the  usual  linen,  tools, 
implements  and  utensils,  Mr.  Lewis  owned  a  long  table 
and  six  chairs;  four  chests  and  live  boxes;  one  black  wal- 
nut and  two  oak  bedsteads,  two  rugs,  "  curtains,  iron  rods 
and  valience,  2  plankett  at  ^2-10-0,  2  more  at  ^1-15-0, 
2  old  plankett,  2  old  poulsters  and  1  small  bag,  £1-1  5-0;" 
a  small  looking-glass  and  two  pairs  of  scales. 

Many  individuals  who   were  by  no   means  indigent 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


lived  with  the  plainest  surroundings.  For  instance,  John 
Moore  died  in  171 9  worth  ^.319.  His  dwelling  and 
plantation  of  100  acres  were  valued  at  ^"ioo.  Besides  the 
usual  kitchen  stuff,  all  the  furniture  „he  possessed  consisted 
of  two  feather  beds  and  bedding,  a  rough  table,  four  chairs, 
a  trunk,  and  a  looking-glass. 

John  Jones  was  a  gentleman  of  wealth,  and  his  posses- 
sions show  that  his  tastes  were  not  so  simple  as  those  of 
many  of  his  contemporaries,  who  were  far  richer.  At  his 
death  in  1708,  his  personal  estate  amounted  to  ^773-6-2. 
Mr.  Jones  is  especially  interesting  on  account  of  owning 
one  of  the  earliest  pieces  of  mahogany  to  be  found  here — 
a  "broaken  mahogany  skreen,"  which  is  set  down  at  two 
shillings.  It  was  not  therefore  very  highly  esteemed,  for 
that  sum  is  the  estimated  value  of  two  leather  stools,  or  a 
glass  tea-cup  and  coffee-cup,  in  the  same  inventory.  The 
Windsor  chair  also  appears  here,  three  being  worth  ten 
shillings.  It  is  thus  evident  that  Mr.  Jones  liked  to  keep 
up  with  the  latest  fashions.  His  plate  comprised  two 
silver  tankards,  two  caudle  cups,  one  porringer,  fifteen 
spoons  and  three   large  dram  cups,  all  worth  ^.42-1-8. 

Evidence  of  good  living  is  ample  in  the  large  amount 
of  brass  and  copper  pots  and  pans  and  kitchen  stuff 
of  all  kinds.  Among  the  glass,  china  and  earthenware, 
we  notice  seventeen  earthen  plates  and  two  fruit  dishes,  a 
small  punch  bowl,  five  glasses,  seven  basons  and  saucers, 
two  jugs,  three  sugar  pots,  a  dish,  a  lignum-vitae  punch 
bowl,  etc.  A  pair  of  tobacco-tongs  and  fourteen  dozen 
pipes  attest  Mr.  Jones's  indulgence  in  the  weed. 

It  is  in  the  beds,  however,  and  their  coverings  and  cur- 
tains, that  Mr.  Jones's  decorative  taste  is  chiefly  noticeable. 
He  possessed  seven  or  eight  bedsteads,  with  cords,  sacking- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bottoms  and  rods,  the  value  of  which  varied  from  ten  shillings 
to  two  pounds.  There  was  a  large  quantity  of  bed  and  table 
linen,  besides  "a  chimney  valence,"  sideboard  cloths,  and 
two  little  striped  carpets.  In  addition  to  the  beds,  we  find 
seven  hammocks,  the  cheapest  being  worth  three  shillings, 
and  the  choicest,  "with  double  fringe,"  ^"2-10-0.  No  pic- 
tures graced  the  walls,  but  twelve  maps  of  Barbadoes  occur. 

Specimens  of  the  Windsor  chair,  mentioned  above,  are 
very  numerous.  Carpenters'  Hall,  Philadelphia,  possesses 
a  number  of  them.  A  good  example  that  came  from 
Washington's  Presidential  Mansion,  in  Philadelphia,  is  now 
owned  by  the  Philadelphia  Library.    (See  page  131.) 

Another  interesting  specimen  of  one  variety  of  the 
Windsor  chair  was  that  used  by  Thomas  Jefferson  while 
writing  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The  seat  is 
double,  allowing  the  top  part  to  revolve.  It  is  unusually 
low  and  has  apparently  been  cut  down  to  suit  the  conven- 
ience of  its  owner.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  in  Philadelphia. 

Francis  Daniel  Pastorius,  born  in  Franconia,  in  1651, 
joined  the  Pietists,  and  took  a  colony  of  German  and 
Dutch  Memnonites  and  Quakers  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  arrived  in  1683.  He  had  previously  visited  Penn,  in 
England,  and  joined  the  Society  of  Friends.  On  his  arrival 
he  founded  Germantown,  and  until  his  death  was  very 
influential  in  the  community. 

Pastorius  devoted  much  energy  to  teaching,  and  his 
knowledge  is  apparent  in  the  variety  of  books  he  possessed. 
He  died  in  171  9,  and  the  list  of  his  possessions  shows  the 
simple  style  in  which  he  lived,  and  is  characteristic  of  the 
homes  of  his  fellow  mystics.  One  hundred  primers  men- 
tioned were  doubtless  used  in  his  teaching. 

89 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Pastorius  owned  a  very  respectable  parcel  of  land — 873 
acres — but  the  value  of  it  was  only  ^150.  The  furniture, 
exclusive  of  clothes,  tools,  household  linen  and  kitchen 
utensils,  consisted  only  of  two  cheap  bedsteads  with 
feather  beds,  a  fine  chest,  three  chairs,  one  table,  one 
trunk,  one  desk  and  one  knife  and  fork.  He  possessed 
bibles  in  quarto  and  octavo,  a  Greek  testament,  fourteen 
dictionaries,  books  in  French  English  (^12),  Latin 

(/12),  High  Dutch  (£$),  and  Low  Dutch  {£6). 

Another  famous  house,  of  a  far  different  type,  was  that 
built  by  Baron  Stiegel  at  Mannheim.  It  was  perfectly 
square,  each  side  being  forty  feet.  The  bricks  were  im- 
ported from  England,  and  hauled  from  Philadelphia  by 
the  baron's  teams.  The  large  parlour  was  hung  with 
tapestry,  representing  hunting  scenes,  the  chimney-pieces 
were  decorated  with  blue  tiles,  and  the  wainscoting  and 
doors  were  extremely  fine.  There  was  a  "chapel"  also 
within  the  house,  where  the  baron  used  to  preach  to  the 
working-men  of  his  large  glass  works  (founded  in  1768),  at 
one  time  the  only  glass  factory  in  America.  This  extraordi- 
nary character,  who  experienced  the  extremes  of  wealth  and 
poverty  and  who  emigrated  to  the  New  World  from  Ger- 
many in  1750  with  a  fortune  of  ^40,000,  used  to  drive 
from  Philadelphia  to  Mannheim  in  a  coach  and  four, 
preceded  by  postilions  and  a  pack  of  hounds.  He  enter- 
tained lavishly  and  was  particularly  fond  of  music.  It  is 
said  that  he  frequently  bought  instruments  for  any  of  his 
workmen  who  exhibited  a  talent  for  music,  and  hired 
teachers  for  them.  A  spinet  that  belonged  to  the  Baron 
at  Mannheim,  now  owned  by  the  Pennsylvania  Historical 
Society,  is  represented  here.  The  accidentals  are  white  and 
the  naturals  black,  showing  it  to  be  a  German  instrument 

90 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  height  of  elegance  and  fashion  would  naturally 
be  looked  for  in  the  governor's  mansion.  Therefore  an 
examination  of  the  household  goods  of  Governor  Patrick 
Gordon,  whose  will  and  inventory  are  dated  17^6,  will 
show  what  was  the  highest  degree  of  luxury  and  comfort 
at  that  time.  Governor  Gordon  arrived  in  Philadelphia  in 
1726  and  was  governor  of  Pennsylvania  for  ten  years;  he 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  He  was  a  trained  soldier, 
had  acquired  a  reputation  in  Queen  Anne's  reign,  and  was 
exceedingly  popular. 

Besides  about  a  dozen  common  chairs,  the  list  includes 
eighteen  rush-bottomed  walnut,  eight  leather,  four  mo- 
hair, four  cane,  rive  Windsor,  and  three  easy-chairs.  One 
of  the  latter  was  covered  with  plush  and  the  other 
two  were  luxurious  and  costly.  There  were  also  three 
stools,  a  mohair  settee,  and  a  cane  couch.  There  were 
eighteen  tables  in  the  house,  only  two  of  which  were 
of  mahogany — a  small  round  and  a  tea-table.  The  other 
kinds  mentioned  were  oak,  two  large  walnut,  walnut  one 
leaf,  small  walnut,  tea-table  and  board,  ditto  and  cover, 
Dutch  tea-table,  card  and  backgammon,  square  pine  small 
ditto,  table  and  green  cloth,  kitchen  and  other  ordinary 
tables.  The  rooms  also  contained  six  dressing-tables,  one 
being  of  pine ;  the  other  woods  are  not  specified.  One 
clock,  two  dressing-glasses,  two  looking-glasses,  a  fine 
black  cabinet,  a  walnut  desk,  and  a  desk  and  a  stool  are 
also  mentioned.  Besides  candle-sticks,  the  lighting  appa- 
ratus consisted  of  three  brass  arms,  two  large  and  two 
smaller  sconces  (both  very  ornate  and  expensive),  one  pair 
of  brass  and  one  of  glass  branches,  and  two  glass  lanterns. 
The  torches  that  once  lighted  the  governor's  guests  to  his 
door  are  also  extinct,  and  their  existence  is  slightingly 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


recorded  with  the  words  "  some  bits  of  flambeaux  being  of 
no  value."  Nine  sets  of  andirons,  dogs,  and  fire-irons, 
with  some  fenders  and  iron  chimney-backs,  garnished  the 
hearths.  The  principal  room  had  an  iron  grate  and  hearth- 
ware,  worth  only  a  few  shillings  less  than  the  combined 
value  of  a  mahogany  table,  and  half  a  dozen  walnut  chairs 
in  the  same  room.  It  is  questionable  whether  the  carpets 
mentioned  were  floor  coverings,  because  a  "  floor  cloth"  is 
a  separate  item.  If  the  "large  carpet,"  valued  at  ,£5-15-0, 
was  a  table-cloth,  it  must  have  been  an  unusually  fine  pro- 
duct of  the  loom,  or  the  needle,  for  that  sum  was  more 
than  the  cost  of  eight  leather  chairs.  In  one  room,  at 
least,  there  were  expensive  damask  curtains  over  the  doors 
as  well  as  the  windows.  The  prices  of  the  calico  window 
curtains  varied  surprisingly,  one  set  being  appraised  at 
twelve  shillings,  and  another  at  £3-15-0.  Then  there 
were  three  pairs  of  window  curtains  (£1-6-0),  red  curtains 
and  silk  curtains  besides  the  window  curtains  in  the  bed- 
rooms that  matched  the  bed  hangings.  A  valuable  gilt 
leather  screen  and  a  humbler  one  of  canvas  also  served  as 
a  protection  against  draughts.  The  walls  were  adorned 
with  some  fifty  pictures  of  various  kinds,  twenty-one  of 
which  were  prints,  including  one  of  King  George  I., 
another  of  Queen  Anne's  tomb,  and  twelve  of  Hudibras. 
Loyal  sentiment  further  appears  in  duplicates  (in  oil)  of 
George  I.  and  Anne.  The  nationality  of  the  owner  ac- 
counts for  the  presence  of  a  painting  of  Mary  Queen  of 
Scots  (£21),  and  another  picture  of  Queen  Mary,  of  equal 
value,  which  was  doubtless  the  luckless  Stuart,  and  not  the 
wife  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  Governor  Gordon's  taste 
in  art,  however,  ran  to  the  Dutch  school.  He  owned  two 
Dutch  pictures,  five  "landskips,"  two  sea-pieces,  a  flower- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


piece  and  "an  old  woman  frying  pancakes  "  ;  besides  these 
there  were  two  small  gilt-frame  pictures,  four  small  pic- 
tures, and  some  family  pictures.  His  own  portrait,  in  oils, 
also  adorned  the  walls.   The  paintings  were  valued  at  ^"io^. 

The  governor's  few  books  were  valued  at  only  ^"10  ; 
his  wearing  apparel  at  £142-2-6.  He  had  an  exception- 
ally well  stocked  wine  cellar.  The  silver  plate  weighed 
1053  oz.,  15  dwt.,  which  at  117  pence  per  ounce, 
amounted  to  nearly  £514.  Thirty-two  china  dishes,  one 
china  bason  and  128  plates,  worth  £193-9-0,  other  china 
to  the  value  of  £20,  much  glass,  including  twenty 
decanters  and  cruets,  and  a  lot  of  earthenware  and  cutlery, 
constituted  the  table  service.  The  kitchen  stuff  and  cook- 
ing vessels  and  utensils  were  plentiful.  Table  and  bed 
linen  amounted  to  £81-4-1. 

The  beds  are  deserving  of  special  notice  on  account  of 
the  variety  in  their  furnishings.  The  wood  of  which  they 
were  made  is  not  stated,  but  the  weight  of  some  of  the 
feather  beds,  bolsters  and  pillows  is,  and  therefore  we  learn 
that  feather  bedding  varied  in  price  from  two  shillings 
and  three  pence  to  three  shillings  per  pound.  The  weights 
given  are  36,  37,  45,  48,  50,  51,  60,  and  72  pounds  re- 
spectively. The  furnishings  included:  bedstead  with 
calico  curtains,  £6-5-0;  hedstead,  £2-3-0;  mohair  bed 
and  silk  curtains,  .£13-5-0;  fustian  wrought  bed,  £9- 
10-0;  bedstead  and  curtains,  £3-19-0;  bedstead,  £1-7-6; 
bedstead  and  seersucker  curtains  £4 ;  and  bedstead  and 
green  curtains,  £2-16-0.  Four  bedsteads  seem  to  have 
had  no  curtains  at  all.  Two  mattresses  are  appraised  at 
£2-10-0.  Three  blankets  and  one  quilt  were  the  allow- 
ance for  most  of  the  beds.  The  total  value  of  the  gov- 
ernor's goods  and  chattels  was  nearly  ^£2000. 

93 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


James  Logan,  an  exceedingly  wealthy  and  cultured  man, 
built   Stentbn,  on   the    Germantown    Road,  in  1727-8. 

Half  of  the  front  of  the  house  to  the  second  story  was 
taken  up  by  one  large,  finely-lighted  room,  the  library  of 
the  book-loving  masters  of  the  place.     This  remarkably 


A  TABLE 

The  date  of  this  is  uncertain.     The  pierced  escutcheons,  if  original,  fix  it  at  about  1760,  however. 


interesting  collection  of  books  was  bequeathed  to  the  city 
of  Philadelphia  by  Mr.  Logan,  who  also  contributed  the 
Springettsbury  property  (a  bequest  from  the  Penn  estate), 
as  an  endowment. 

The  accompanying  illustration  shows  a  walnut  table 
from  Stenton  which  is  one  of  those  specified  in  the  in- 
ventory.    It  is  a  good  example  of  the  period.     It  has  two 

94 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


drawers  with  brass  handles  and  key-plates.  This  table  is 
now  owned  by  the  Philadelphia  Library. 

That  Mr.  Logan  was  a  man  of  taste  as  well  as  wealth 
is  evident  from  the  harmony  of  colouring  aimed  at  in  his 
yellow  bed-room  with  its  maple  furnishings.  His  ample 
hall  served  its  old  purpose  as  a  reception  room,  though 
in  the  new  houses  that  were  being  built  there  was  a  grow- 
ing tendency  to  suppress  the  hall  as  a  separate  apartment 
for  living  and  receptions;  it  was  becoming  merely  the 
entry,  out  of  which  other  rooms  opened.  Little  by  little 
beds,  couches  and  settees  were  banished  from  halls  to  other 
apartments.  Most  noticeable  of  all,  however,  is  the  fact 
that  among  all  Mr.  Logan's  possessions  not  a  single  piece  of 
mahogany  is  mentioned.  Except  for  the  lack  of  carpets  and 
pictures,  the  furniture  and  its  disposition  seem  almost 
entirely  modern. 

The  home  of  a  wealthy  Pennsylvanian  of  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century  presents  a  marked  contrast  with 
that  of  a  plantation  in  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.  Servants 
slept  at  the  top  of  the  house. 

The  illustration  facing  page  i  oo  shows  varieties  of  chairs 
common  during  this  period.  The  chair  on  the  left  is  ex- 
ceedingly plain.  The  reading-desk  is  of  walnut.  It  can 
be  adjusted  at  any  height  to  suit  the  comfort  of  the  reader 
by  turning  on  the  screw  support.  A  lid  opens  into  the  in- 
terior in  which  papers  were  kept.  The  central  pillar 
terminates  in  a  burning  torch  and  the  legs  end  in  the  fa- 
vourite ball' and  claw  feet.  This  desk  belonged  to  Hon. 
John  Dickinson,  the  publicist,  and  these  specimens  are 
preserved  in  the  Philadelphia  Library. 

Besides  household  furniture,  the  old  records  occasionally 
afford  a  glimpse  of  the  furniture  used  in  churches,  colleges 

95 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

and  court-houses.  This  was  sometimes  imported,  but  fre- 
quently made  by  local  joiners.  At  the  vestry  meeting  of 
St.  Paul's  parish,  Kent  County,  Md.,  April  6,  1702,  it  was 
resolved  "  that  Mr.  Elias  King  do  provide  Linnen  for  the 
Communion:  one  table  cloth  and  two  napkins," — that  the 
clerk  write  a  note  to  Colonel  Hynson  to  request  him  to 
order  his  "Joyner  to  make  a  Communion  Table  four  feet 
square,  with  a  drawer  underneath  to  put  the  Church  Books 
in,  and  to  make  it  of  black  walnut."  Again  on  June  1, 
1703,  "  Eliner  Smith  this  day  was  pleased  to  present  the 
Church  with  a  pulpit  cloth  and  a  cushion.  Mr.  Giles  Bond 
also  is  requested  to  provide  a  chest  to  put  the  Pulpit  cloth, 
Cushion  and  Church  Books  in,  and  Colonel  Hans  Hanson  is 
empowered  to  agree  with  Jacob  Young  to  alter  the  Pulpit 
door  and  Staircase  Rails  and  fit  it  for  to  hang  the  pulpit 
cloth." 

The  illustration  shows  a  chair  and  communion  table 
and  service  belonging  to  the  early  part  of  the  century. 
They  are  from  Donegal,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  date 
from  1722.  The  table  and  chair  are  both  common  types  in 
use  in  England  and  the  colonies  during  the  seventeenth  and 
early  eighteenth  centuries,  and  were  to  be  found  in  any 
ordinary  house :  there  is  nothing  distinctively  ecclesiastical 
about  them.  They  could  easily  be  made  by  a  native  joiner. 
The  silver  communion  cups  are  also  plain  and  severe. 

From  the  inventories  of  the  period  we  may  gain  a  good 
idea  of  the  appearance  the  early  Philadelphia  homes 
presented.  Carpets  were  not  in  common  use  until  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century.  We  are  told  that  the  floors 
were  sanded  and  that  the  sand-man  went  his  rounds  regu- 
larly and  that  the  housewives  or  servants  sprinkled  the  sand 
on  the  floor  through  a  sieve  or  arranged  it  in  patterns  with 

96 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


deft  turns  of  the  broom.  The  walls  were  whitewashed 
until  about  1745,  when  we  find  one  Charles  Hargrave  ad- 
vertising wall-paper,  and  a  little  later  Peter  Fleeson  manu- 
facturing paper-hangings  and  papier-mache  mouldings  at  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Chestnut  streets. 

Franklin  invented  the  open  stove  known  by  his  name, 


A  CHAIR    AND  COMMUNION  TABLE 

There  is  nothing  ecclesiastically  distinctive  about  these  pieces.  The  silver  communion  cups  are 
also  plain  and  severe. 


in  1742,  which  was  greatly  preferred  to  the  German  stove 
made  by  Christopher  Sauer  in  Germantown. 

The  following  letter  from  Franklin  shows  that  he 
was  anxious  for  Mrs.  Franklin  to  have  some  of  the  latest 
London  styles.  This  letter  is  dated  London,  1 9  February, 
1758,  and  says : 

I  send  you  by  Captain  Budden  ...  six  coarse 
diaper  breakfast  cloths  ;  they  are  to  spread  on  the 
tea  table,  for  nobody  breakfasts  here  on  the  naked 

97 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


table,  but  on  the  cloth  they  set  a  large  tea  board  with 
the  cups.  .  .  . 

In  the  great  case,  besides  the  little  box,  is  con- 
tained some  carpeting  for  the  best  room  floor.  There 
is  enough  for  one  large  or  two  small  ones  ;  it  is  to 
be  sewed  together,  the  edges  being  first  felled  down, 
and  care  taken  to  make  the  figures  meet  exactly  ; 
there  is  bordering  for  the  same.  This  was  my  fancy. 
Also  two  large  fine  Flanders  bedticks,  and  two  pair 
of  large  superfine  blankets,  two  fine  damask  table- 
cloths and  napkins,  and  forty-three  ells  of  Ghentish 
sheeting  from  Holland.  These  you  ordered.  There 
are  also  fifty-six  yards  of  cotton,  printed  curi- 
ously from  copper  plates,  a  new  invention,  to  make 
bed  and  window  curtains  ;  and  seven  yards  of  chair 
bottoms,  printed  in  the  same  way,  very  neat.  This 
was  my  fancy  ;  but  Mrs.  Stevenson  tells  me  I  did 
wrong  not  to  buy  both  of  the  same  colour.  .  .  . 
There  are  also  snuffers,  a  snuffstand,  and  extinguish- 
er, of  steel,  which  I  send  for  the  beauty  of  workman- 
ship. The  extinguisher  is  for  spermaceti  candles 
only,  and  is  of  a  new  contrivance,  to  preserve  the 
snuff  upon  the  candle.  .  .  . 

I  forgot  to  mention  another  of  my  fancyings, 
viz.,  a  pair  of  silk  blankets,  very  fine.  They  are  of 
a  new  kind,  were  just  taken  in  a  French  prize,  and 
such  were  never  seen  in  England  before.  They  are 
called  blankets,  but  I  think  they  will  be  very  neat 
to  cover  a  summer  bed,  instead  of  a  quilt  or 
counterpane.  .  .  . 

I  hope  Sally  applies  herself  closely  to  her  French 
and  music,  and  that  I  shall  find  she  has  made 
great  proficiency.  The  harpsichord  I  was  about, 
and  which  was  to  have  cost  me  forty  guineas,  Mr 
Stanley  advises  me  not  to  buy  ;  and  we  are  looking 
out  for  another,  one  that  has  been  some  time  in  use, 

98 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  is  a  tried  good  one,  there  being  not  so  much 
dependence  on  a  new  one,  though  made  by  the  best 
hands. 


On  this  page  are  shown  two  chairs  owned  by  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  The  one  to  the  right 
is  of  the  early  Chippendale  school,  with  gracefully  pierced 


TWO   EFFECTIVE   EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  CHAIRS 

To  the  left  is  an  armchair  with  turned  legs,  straining-pieces  and  balusters.  The  chair  to  the  right 
is  bandy-legged,  with  claw  feet.     The  delicacy  of  the  carving  suggests  Chippendale's  simpler  work. 

and  carved  jar-shaped  splat  and  cabriole  legs  with  eagle 
claw  and  ball  foot  and  carved  shell  in  the  middle  of  the 
front  rail.  The  other  chair,  with  legs  and  rails  of  turned 
bead-work,  belonged  to  Thomas  Lawrence,  who  was  several 
times  mayor  and  councillor,  from  1728  onward. 

The  examples  already  given  show  that  though  many  of 

99 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  prosperous  class  during  the  first  half  of  the  century 
clung  to  a  certain  severity  in  their  homes,  yet  "Quaker 
simplicity  "  was  by  no  means  universal,  and  elegance  and 
fashion  had  many  devotees.  Skilful  upholsterers  and  carv- 
ers and  gilders  found  plenty  to  do  in  Pennsylvania  as  in  the 
South.  Two  or  three  advertisements  from  the  American 
Weekly  Messenger  will  show  that  it  was  considered  worth 
while  informing  the  public  where  the  latest  fashions  in 
furniture  were  obtainable. 

March  20,  1729. 

Peter  Baynton,  Front  Street,  has  very  good  red 
leather  chairs,  the  newest  fashion,  and  sundry  other 
European  goods  for  sale. 

June  8,  1732. 

J  no.  Adams,  Upholsterer,  lately  arrived  from 
London,  living  in  Front  Street  .  .  .  makes  and 
sells  all  sorts  of  upholstered  goods,  viz.,  beds  and 
bedding,  easy  chairs,  settees,  squabs  and  couches, 
window-seat  cushions,  Russia  leather  chairs  .  .  . 
at  reasonable  prices. 

Oct.  31,  1734. 

Next  door  to  Caleb  Ransteed's  in  Market  Street, 
Philadelphia,  all  sorts  of  Opholsterers'  work  is  per- 
formed, viz.,  beds  after  the  most  fashionable  and 
plain  way  to  take  off"  the  woodwork,  settee  beds,  and 
easie  chair  beds,  commodious  for  lower  rooms  (models 
of  which  may  be  seen),  field  beds,  pallet  beds,  cur- 
tains for  coaches,  easie  chairs,  cushions,  etc.  reason- 
able and  with  expedition  by  William  Atlee. 

N.  B.  Any  person  willing  to  have  a  bed  stand 
in  an  alcove,  which  is  both  warm  and  handsom,  may 
have  the  same  hung  and  finished  in  the  most  ele- 
gant manner  customary  in  the  best  houses  in  Eng- 
land. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


TWO   EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY  CHAIRS 
The  chair  to  the  left  has  a  rush  seat.     The  armchair  on  the  right  has  bandy  legs  and  claw  feet. 


Peter  Petridge,  screen-maker,  in  1751  was  doing  busi- 
ness at  the  sign  of  the  "  Half  Moon,"  opposite  Jersey 
Market.  Thomas  Lawrence,  upholsterer,  was  on  Second 
street  opposite  Church  Alley  with  the  sign  of  "  The  Tent," 
and  Samuel  Williams,  a  joiner  on  Walnut  street,  summed 
up  the  whole  of  life  in  his  sign  ''Cradle  and  Coffin."  In 
1756  the  sign  of  the  "  Royal  Bed  "  hung  out  at  the  corner 
of  Second  and  Chestnut  street,  where  Edward  Weyman  was 
settled;  the  "Crown  and  Cushion"  could  be  seen  swing- 
ing on  Front  and  Chestnut  street,  where  James  White  and 
Thomas  Lawrence,  upholsterers,  conducted  business ;  and 
John  Elliott  took  his  orders  at  the  "  Bell  and  Looking- 
Glass"  on  Chestnut  street.  The  "  Crown  and  Cushion"  was 
next  door  to  the  London  Coffee  House  in  1762,  and  Blanche 


JOI 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


White,  possibly  the  widow  of  James  White,  managed  the 
business.  Ben  Randolph,  "  carving,  cabinet  ware  and  wooden 
buttons,"  swings  the  "  Golden  Eagle"  in  1765  ;  and  George 
Ritchie,  upholsterer,  is  established  at  Front  street,  below 
Arch,  at  the  "Crown  and  Tassel."  In  1768  Thomas  Af- 
fleck is  a  cabinet-maker  on  Second  street,  and  Robert  Moon 
is  a  "  chair  and  cabinet-maker  "  on  Front  street. 

The  plate  on  page  101  shows  two  chairs,  one  of  1700, 
with  plain  splat,  high  back,  rush  bottom  and  turned  rails 
and  front  legs  with  fluted  feet.  The  other  shows  the 
Dutch  cabriole  leg  and  bird's  claw  and  ball  foot  with  plain 
arms.  The  splat  has  been  padded  and  covered,  and  there- 
fore its  ornamentation  can  only  be  surmised.  These  speci- 
mens are  owned  by  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

Among  the  clockmakers  of  Philadelphia  were  Augus- 
tine Neisser,  a  native  of  Moravia,  who  emigrated  to  Georgia 
in  1736  and  removed  to  Germantown  in  1739.  All  of  his 
clocks  bear  his  name,  but  no  date  on  the  dial.  Edward 
Duffield,  born  in  Philadelphia  County  in  1720,  made  much 
apparatus  for  Franklin.  He  was  a  clock-  and  watchmaker 
from  1 74 1  to  1747  in  Philadelphia,  and  removed  to  Lower 
Dublin,  Philadelphia  County.  David  Rittenhouse,  a  fa- 
mous clockmaker,  laboured  from  1751  till  1777  at  Norriton 
and  Philadelphia.  Ephraim  Clark  made  timepieces  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Front  and  Market  streets  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  Benjamin,  in  1792. 

The  Rittenhouse  astronomical  clock  constructed  for 
Joseph  Potts,  who  paid  $640  for  it,  was  bought  by  Thomas 
Prior  in  1776.  General  Howe  wanted  to  purchase  it  and 
the  ambassador  of  Spain  also  tried  to  buy  it  for  the  King  of 
Spain.  It  became  the  property  of  G.  W.  Childs  and  is 
now  in  the  Memorial  Hall,  Philadelphia. 


1 0 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


It  has  been  shown  that  mahogany  was  known  in  Phila- 
delphia before  1708,  but  its  spread  was  very  slow.  Chests 
of  drawers  and  tables  occasionally  occur  during  the  next  ten 
years,  but  chairs  are  exceedingly  scarce  till  the  middle  of 
the  century.  Even  by  the  native  makers,  however,  ma- 
hogany must  have  been  used  in  cabinetwork  before  1722, 
for  in  that  year  when  Jonathan  Dickinson,  merchant,  died 
he  had  mahogany  furniture  in  his  house  and  in  his  store, 
where  he  also  had  on  sale  a  lot  of  mahogany  planks. 

So  many  examples  of  richly  hung  beds  have  been  given 
that  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  dwell  further  on  their  im- 
portance. The  immigrants  all  seem  to  have  wanted  a 
feather  bed,  and  sometimes  the  demand  seems  to  have  ex- 
hausted the  supply.  In  1725,  a  new  arrival,  Robert  Parke, 
writing  to  Mary  Valentine  in  Ireland  about  coming  out, 
says :  "  Feather  beds  are  not  to  be  had  here  and  not  to  be 
had  for  money."  At  the  close  of  our  period,  on  the  eve  of 
the  Revolution,  Alexander  Mackraby  visited  Philadelphia. 
Writing  to  his  uncle,  Sir  Philip  Francis  (the  reputed  Junius), 
on  January  20,  1768,  he  says:  "I  could  hardly  find  my- 
self out  this  morning  in  a  most  elegant  crimson  silk  damask 
bed."    This  was  on  a  visit  to  Dr.  Franklin's  son. 

Much  attention  was  paid  in  many  cases  to  the  decorat- 
ive effect  of  the  furniture  and  hangings;  the  bedrooms 
especially  were  often  limited  to  one  prevailing  hue.  The 
Red,  Yellow,  or  Blue  Room  is  constantly  met  with,  and 
numerous  instances  occur  in  which  the  bed  and  window  cur- 
tains matched.  Harmony  in  colour  and  arrangement  was 
frequently  sought  in  homes  of  moderate  means  as  well  as 
in  splendid  mansions.  Views  on  this  subject  are  expressed 
by  a  certain  Miss  Sarah  Eve,  who  kept  a  journal  in  1773. 

"  Feb.  10th.    We  stept  into  Mrs.  Parish's  for  a  moment 

io3 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  then  went  to  Mrs.  Stretch's.  We  were  much  pleased 
with  our  visit  and  her  new  house :  the  neatness  and  pro- 
portions of  the  furniture  corresponding  so  well  with  the 
size  of  the  house,  that  here  one  may  see  elegance  in  minia- 
ture. I  don't  mean  the  elegance  of  a  palace,  but  of  simpli- 
city, which  is  preferable — the  one  pleases  the  eye  but 
flatters  the  vanity,  the  other  pleases  the  judgment  and 
cherishes  nature.  As  I  walked  through  this  home  I  could 
not  help  saying  this  surely  might  be  taken  for  the  habita- 
tion of  Happiness." 

It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  a  century  and  a  quar- 
ter ago  William  Penn  already  belonged  to  ancient  history 
in  the  eyes  of  Miss  Eve,  tor  on  May  6th  she  writes: 

"Mrs.  Bunton  that  lives  here  showed  us  some  furniture 
which  might  really  be  termed  relicks  of  antiquity,  which 
belonged  to  William  Penn  ;  they  purchased  the  clock  which 
it  was  said  struck  one  just  before  William  Penn  died  ;  what 
makes  this  remarkable  is  that  it  had  not  struck  for  some 
years  before." 

During  the  years  that  have  elapsed  between  the 
letter  quoted  from  Franklin  to  his  wife  and  the  follow- 
ing correspondence,  one  may  note  the  steady  advance  of 
luxury  in  his  home.  Mrs.  Franklin,  writing  to  her  hus- 
band (again  in  London),  in  1765,  thus  describes  the  home: 

In  the  room  down  stairs  is  the  sideboard,  which 
is  very  handsome  and  plain,  with  two  tables  made  to 
suit  it,  and  a  dozen  of  chairs  also.  The  chairs  are 
plain  horsehair,  and  look  as  well  as  Paduasoy,  and 
are  admired  by  all.  The  little  south  room  I  have 
papered,  as  the  walls  were  much  soiled.  In  this  room 
is  a  carpet  I  bought  cheap  for  its  goodness,  and 
nearly  new.    The  large  carpet  is  in  the  blue  room. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


In  the  parlour  is  a  Scotch  carpet,  which  has  had 
much  fault  found  with  it.  Your  time-piece  stands 
in  one  corner,  which  is,  I  am  told,  all  wrong — but  I 
say,  we  shall  have  all  these  as  they  should  be,  when 
you  come  home.  If  you  could  meet  with  a  Turkey 
carpet,  I  should  like  it  ;  but  if  not,  I  should  be  very 
easy,  for  as  to  these  things,  I  have  become  quite  in- 
different at  this  time.  In  the  north  room  where  we 
sit,  we  have  a  small  Scotch  carpet — -the  small  book- 
case— brother  John's  picture,  and  one  of  the  King 
and  Oueen.  In  the  room  for  our  friends,  we  have 
the  Earl  of  Bute  hung  up  and  a  glass.  May  I  de- 
sire you  to  remember  the  drinking  glasses  and  a 
large  table  cloth  or  two  ;  also  a  pair  of  silver  cannis- 
ters.  The  closet  doors  in  your_  room  have  been 
framed  for  glasses,  unknown  to  me  ;  I  shall  send 
you  an  account  of  the  panes  required.  I  shall  also 
send  the  measures  of  the  fireplaces,  and  the  pier  of 
glass.  The  chimneys  do  well,  and  I  have  baked 
in  the  oven,  and  found  it  is  good.  The  room  we 
call  yours  has  in  it  a  desk — the  harmonica  made 
like  a  desk — a  large  chest  with  all  the  writings 
—the  boxes  of  glasses  for  music,  and  for  the  elec- 
tricity, and  all  your  clothes.  The  pictures  are  not 
put  up,  as  I  do  not  like  to  drive  nails  lest  they 
should  not  be  right.  The  Blue  room  has  the  har- 
monica and  the  harpsichord,  the  gilt  sconce,  a  card 
table,  a  set  of  tea  china,  the  worked  chairs  and  screen 
— a  very  handsome  stand  for  the  tea  kettle  to  stand 
on,  and  the  ornamental  china.  The  paper  of  this 
room  has  lost  much  of  its  bloom  by  pasting  up.  The 
curtains  are  not  yet  made.  The  south  room  is  my 
sleeping  room  with  my  Susannah, — where  we  have 
a  bed  without  curtains, — a  chest  of  drawers,  a  table, 
a  glass,  and  old  black  walnut  chairs  and  some  of  our 
family  pictures.    Sally  has  the  south  room  up  two 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


pair  of  stairs,  having  therein  a  bed,  bureau,  table, 
glass,  and  the  picture — a  trunk  and  books — but 
these  you  can't  have  any  notion  of. 

Writing  to  his  wife  from  London,  June  22,  1767,  he 
says  : 

I  suppose  the  room  is  too  blue,  the  wood  being 
of  the  same  colour  with  the  paper,  and  so  looks  too 
dark.  I  would  have  you  finish  it  as  soon  as  you 
can,  thus  :  paint  the  wainscot  a  dead  white  ;  paper 
the  walls  blue,  and  tack  the  gilt  "border  round  just 
above  the  surbase  and  under  the  cornice.  If  the 
paper  is  not  equally  coloured  when  pasted  on,  let  it 
be  brushed  over  again  with  the  same  colour,  and  let 
the  papier  mach'e  musical  figures  be  tacked  to  the 
middle  of  the  ceiling.  When  this  is  done,  I  think 
it  will  look  very  well,  v 

An  unusually  interesting  chair  is  one  that  belonged  to 
Benjamin  Franklin,  and  is  now  used  by  the  President  of 
the  American  Philosophical  Society,  Philadelphia.  It  was 
invented  by  Franklin,  and,  as  shown  facing  page  108,  the 
seat  turns  up  and  forms  a  small  flight  of  steps.  Franklin 
used  it  in  his  library  to  reach  his  books  on  the  top  shelves. 
The  seat,  back  and  arms  are  covered  with  brown  leather 
fastened  with  brass  studs ;  the  wood  is  walnut. 

Franklin's  clock,  represented  in  plate  facing  page  146, 
is  of  a  very  early  type.  It  differs  very  slightly  from  the 
one  owned  by  William  Hudson,  and  mentioned  on  page 
84.     The  brasses  around  the  dial  are  very  delicate. 

We  are  now  on  the  threshold  of  the  Revolution,  whose 
fires  were  to  be  fatal  to  so  much  of  the  old  furniture.  One 
of  the  first  noticeable  effects  of  the  outbreak  was  the  dis- 
crediting and  banishment  of  the  tea  equipage.  Judge 
Shippen  writing  to  his  father,  April  20,  1775,  tells  him: 

106 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Peggy  has  searched  every  shop  in  town  for  a 
blue  and  white  china  coffee  pot,  but  no  such  thing 
is  to  be  had,  nor  indeed  any  other  sort  than  can  be 
called  handsome.  Since  the  disuse  of  tea  great 
numbers  of  people  have  been  endeavouring  to  supply 
themselves  with  coffee  pots.  My  brother,  having 
no  silver  one,  has  taken  pains  to  get  a  china  one, 
but  without  success. 

The  importations  having  ceased,  the  native  furniture- 
makers  naturally  hastened  to  reap  their  harvest.  War 
prices  prevailed  and  the  usual  excuses  of  course  were  offered. 
To  his  brother-in-law,  Jasper  Yeates,  the  judge  writes, 
January  i  9,  1  776  : 

I  enclose  you  the  bill  for  your  settee  and  chair 
which  Mr.  Fleeson  thought  it  necessary  to  accom- 
pany with  an  apology  on  account  of  its  being  much 
higher  than  he  gave  Mrs.  Shippen  reason  to  expect 
it  would  be  ;  he  says  every  material  which  he  has 
occasion  to  buy  is  raised  in  its  price  from  its  scarcity 
and  the  prevailing  exorbitance  of  the  storekeepers. 

The  chair  and  card-table,  shown  in  the  following 
illustration,  belonged  to  the  Hon.  Jasper  Yeates,  mentioned 
above,  who  was  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania  from  1791  till  his  death  in  18 17.  He  died 
in  Lancaster,  where  he  settled  about  1774.  Both  pieces 
are  of  walnut.  The  chair  is  Dutch  in  character,  squat  in 
appearance  and  with  cabriole  legs  with  claw  and  ball  feet, 
and  shell  ornaments.  The  splat  is  perforated  at  the  base 
and  pierced  by  two  tiers  of  four  slits  separated  by  a  curved 
mullion,  repeating  the  Gothic  window  effect.  The  arms 
terminate  in  scrolls  tightly  rolled  outward  with  bulging 
front  supports.  The  front  legs  are  plain  cabriole  with 
eagle  claw  and  ball  feet;  the  back  legs  are  square  all  the 

107 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


way  down.  The  centre  of  the  top  of  the  back  and  of  the 
front  rail  are  ornamented  with  a  carved  shell. 

The  folding  card-table  has  also  cabriole  legs  with  eagle 
claw  and  ball  feet.     It  has  a  drawer  with  brass  handle  and 


CHAIR   AND  CARD-TABLE 

Formerly  owned  by  the  Hon.  Jasper  Yeates,  Lancaster,  Pa.  Now  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  John  H. 
Brinton,  Philadelphia. 


a  pool  for  counters  at  each  side  in  the  centre  and  a  flat 
depression  at  each  corner  for  candlesticks.  These  two 
pieces  of  furniture  are  now  owned  by  Dr.  John  H.  Brinton, 
of  Philadelphia,  the  great-grandson  of  Jasper  Yeates. 

Here,  then,  we  pause,  reserving  the  history  of  Philadel- 
phia furniture  in  the  Revolutionary  days  for  a  future  chapter. 

SOUTH    CAROLINA,  VIRGINIA    AND    MARYLAND    TO  I 

^pHE  condition  of  the  houses  of  South  Carolina,  early  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  is  described  in  somewhat  un- 
flattering terms  by  Hewits  who  wrote  half  a  century  later. 
The  weak  proprietary  government  was  held  responsible  for 

108 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


all  the  evils,  and  prosperity  is  said  to  have  dawned  only 
on  the  transfer  of  the  colony  to  the  Crown.  Sir  Alexander 
dimming  was  sent  out  as  governor  in  1730,  and  concluded 
a  treaty  of  alliance  with  the  Cherokees.  The  colony  now 
being  secure,  the  English  merchants  established  houses  in 
Charleston  and  imported  slaves.  Simultaneously  their 
homes  began  to  reflect  in  articles  of  comfort,  luxury  and 
pleasure  the  changed  economic  conditions.  British  manu- 
factures for  the  plantations  were  introduced,  land  rose  in 
value,  and  the  planters  were  so  successful  that  in  a  few 
years  the  produce  of  the  colony  was  doubled. 

It  is  admitted  that  Nature  smiled  and  the  planters  got 
rich  easily  :  the  records  prove  also  that  they  demanded  and 
obtained  a  very  considerable  degree  of  luxury.  In  1731 
Charleston  contained  between  500  and  600  houses,  "  most 
of  which  are  very  costly."  In  that  year,  also,  "  a  skilful 
carpenter  is  not  ashamed  to  demand  thirty  shillings  a  day 
besides  his  diet  ;  the  common  wages  of  a  workman  is 
twenty  shillings  a  day  provided  he  speaks  English."  The 
fact  is,  the  wealth  of  the  Southern  planters  increased  so 
rapidly  that  many  of  their  houses  showed  a  degree  of 
luxury  unsurpassed  by  the  London  merchants.  Personal 
estates  of  from  ^500  to  ^5,000  are  found  by  the  hundred, 
and  in  many  cases  the  personal  property  runs  into  many 
thousands.  The  Landgrave  Joseph  Morton  is  a  good  type 
of  the  Carolina  planter  of  the  early  eighteenth  century. 

The  inventory  of  his  estate,  March  7,  1723,  is  as  follows: 
Tooboodoe  Plantation. 

£  s  d. 

Furniture  in  the  best  chamber   .        .  195-0-0 
Do  dining  room         .  126-0-0 

Do  little  chamber  within  the 

dining  room  .        .  22-0-0 
109 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Do 

long  chamber  . 

£    s.  d. 

8  5-0-0 

Do 

little  parlour 

66—0—0 

Do 

hall 

c  2—0-0 

Do 

parlour  . 

1 1 c-o— 0 

Do 

chamber  within 

the  par- 

lour 

4.  c-o— 0 

The  library 

I 5O—O—O 

Linen 

2  I 7-O-O 

Pewter 

c 0-0-0 

J 

Arms 

7O-O-O 

Plate 

600-0-0 

Gold  Watch  and 

silver  do 

I 5O-O-O 

Cash  and  bonds 

5OOO-O-O 

Cattle  &c 

I 4OO-O-O 

Tools  &c 

I 5O-O-O 

Fifty  negroes  . 

725O-O-O 
^15763-0-0 

Bear  Bluff  Plantation 

445 9-°-° 

Mr.  Morton  was  by  no  means  an  exception.  Among 
many  other  rich  men  were:  Thomas  Grimball,  £6,joo; 
Richard  Beresford,  ^"15,000,  1722;  Thomas  Dayton, 
^23,000,  and  John  Laroche,  ^12,400,  1724;  Daniel 
Gale,  ^5,600,  1725  ;  Captain  Robert  Cox,  ^"8,100,  1727; 
Captain  Henry  Nicholas,  ^"20,000,  and  George  Smith, 
^35,000,  1730;  John  Raven,  ^31,800,  1734;  Andrew 
Allen,  ^26,000,  1735,  the  Hon.  A.  Middleton,  ^25,000, 
1738;  Edward  Hext,  ^"33,000,  1742;  Hon.  John  Colleton, 
^39,000,  1 75 1  ;  and  Peter  Porcher,  ^22,800,  1754. 

Two  or  three  lists  of  the  possessions  of  people  of  various 
grades  of  prosperity  will  show  that  comfort  and  even  ele- 
gance were  by  no  means  elemental  in  these  early  years. 
Nathaniel  Wilkinson  in  171  1  left  a  personality  amount- 
ing to  ^1,557-2-6.     Among  his  household  goods  we  find 

no 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


i  silver  tankard  28  oz  at  7/6 
6  silver  spoons 
12  cane  chairs  and  couch  . 

1  large  cedar  table 

2  small  ditto  .... 
1  chest  of  drawers,  dressing  table  and  g 
1  bed,  etc.  .... 
1  pr  iron  dogs 

1  set  of  brasses  for  the  chimney 


10- 1 0-0 
3-15-0 
8-0-0 
2-10-0 
1 -0-0 
ass  7-0-0 
8-0-0 
1 -0-0 
1 - 1 0-0 


The  above  furniture,  if  scanty,  is  at  least  genteel. 
Other  inventories  of  this  period  by  no  means  reflect  the 
hardships  of  the  pioneer. 

Daniel  Gale  was  a  wealthier  planter,  his  personality 
being  valued  at  ^"5,611-15-0  in  1725.  His  house  con- 
tained eight  rooms  in  addition  to  the  kitchen,  extension 
and  other  offices.  On  the  ground  floor  were  two  living- 
rooms  and  a  bedroom.  The  latter  contained  a  bed  and  its 
furnishings,  including  three  counterpanes  valued  at  £60 ; 
a  chest  of  drawers  (^15);  a  looking-glass  (£15);  six 
black  chairs  (^1-10-0);  an  easy-chair  0-0)  ;  a  table 

(five  shillings);  fire-irons,  etc.  (£5);  glass-  and  earthen- 
ware (£1);  and  a  Bible  and  other  books  (£5).  The  room 
which  was  probably  the  dining-room  had  twelve  cane  chairs 
and  a  couch  valued  at  ^"20 ;  a  corner  cupboard  {£2) ;  a  tea- 
table  and  china  tea-set  (^3);  fire-irons,  etc.  (^4);  and  a 
small  chimney-piece  picture  {£2).  In  another  downstairs 
room  stood  a  table  and  six  black  chairs  valued  at  ^3-10-0; 
and  in  the  fourth  a  cedar  table  and  six  chairs  worth 
^7-10-0.  In  one  of  the  upper  rooms  we  find  a  bed 
worth  ^100;  two  looking-glasses,  one  valued  at  ^8  and 
the  larger  one  at  ^35  ;  a  table,  eight  chairs,  two  arm-chairs 
and  a  couch  worth  ^'40;  a  buffet  and  chinaware  (£$0); 


1 1 1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


fire-irons  and  -dogs  (^4)  ;  brass  and  irons  (^2)  ;  and  a 
double  sliding  candlestick  (£5).  Another  upstairs  room 
contains  a  bed  and  its  furniture  worth  ^60  ;  a  chest  of 
drawers  (^20);  eighteen  pairs  of  sheets  (^120);  a  table 
and  six  chairs  (^12);  a  small  looking-glass  (£2);  a  hand 
tea-table,  bowls  and  cups  (£5)  ;  and  fire-irons  {£2).  In 
the  third  room  we  find  a  bed  worth  ^100;  a  table  and 
six  cane  chairs  valued  at  and  a  looking-glass  (j£s). 

The  fourth  room  has  a  bedstead  with  its  furniture  worth 
^40;  twelve  leather  chairs  and  a  table  valued  at  ^,15; 
two  pictures  (£5)  ;  and  a  hammock  and  pavilion  (£5).  A 
fifth  upstairs  room,  probably  a  garret,  contained  a  bedstead 
and  three  pavilions  (^32)  ;  a  cedar  table  (£5)  ;  and  other 
household  goods. 

The  rooms  did  not  often  have  any  special  character  before 
1720,  though  the  bed  was  gradually  disappearing  from  the 
hall.  The  dining-room  and  the  sitting-room  were  much 
alike  in  the  arrangement  of  their  furniture,  and  the  sleep- 
ing-rooms much  resembled  them,  with  the  addition  of  a  bed. 
As  the  owner  was  usually  a  merchant  as  well  as  a  planter, 
one  of  the  lower  rooms  was  used  as  his  office. 

The  greater  part  of  this  furniture  was  brought  to 
Charleston  direct  from  England.  Charleston  had  "no  trade 
with  any  part  of  Europe  except  Great  Britain,  unless  our 
sending  rice  to  Lisbon  may  be  called  so,"  says  Governor 
Glen  in  1  748. 

A  handsome  chair  of  the  early  part  of  the  century  is 
shown  on  page  1  1  3.  The  top  rail  is  carved  with  a  graceful 
design  of  the  bell-flower  in  low  relief.  The  splat  is  open. 
The  legs  are  square.  This  chair  belonged  to  Lord  Dun- 
more,  the  last  colonial  governor  of  Virginia.  It  is  preserved 
in  the  house  of  the  Colonial  Dames,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
belongs   to   Miss  Elizabeth  Cary   Nicholas,  having  been 


1 1 2 


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THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


purchased  by  her  ancestor  Judge  Philip  Norbonne  Nicholas 
at  the  sale  of  Lord  Dunmore's  effects. 

As  a  typical  example  of  a  comfortable  Marylander  in  171  8, 
we  may  take  Major  Josiah  Wilson,  of  Prince  George  County. 
His  personality  amounted  to  ^1,178-15-1^  .  The  hall  con- 
tained only  ten  "  rushy  "  leather  chairs,  a  large  looking-glass,  a 


LORD   DUNMORE'S  CHAIR 


clock-case,  three  tin  sconces,  two  pairs  of  iron  dogs,  tongs  and 
shovels,  and  some  earthenware  "  on  the  mantle  press  and 
hanging  shelves." 

"In  the  parlour"  was  a  bed  with  its  furnishings,  a  chest 
of  drawers,  three  rush-bottomed  cane  chairs,  a  small  dress- 
ing-glass, fire-irons,  earthenware  On  the  mantelpiece,  and 
three  plain  trunks. 

113 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  dining-room  contained  eight  "rushy"  leather  chairs, 
three  small  tables,  a  broken  looking-glass,  a  dilapidated 
couch,  a  press,  a  pair  of  iron  dogs,  and  some  articles  on  the 
mantelpiece  and  hanging  shelves  valued  at  twelve  shillings. 

The  "  hall  chamber  "  contained  four  rush-bottomed 
chairs,  a  chest  of  drawers  and  two  beds. 

"  In  the  porch  chamber  "  were  four  rush  and  one  cane 
chair,  a  bed  and  furniture,  a  looking-glass,  a  small  table  and 
a  sealskin  trunk. 

"  In  the  dining-room  chamber,"  twelve  rush-bottomed 
and  one  cane  chair,  a  bed  with  and  another  without  furni- 
ture, a  dressing-glass,  a  small  chest  of  drawers,  a  small  table, 
a  tea-table  and  earthenware  and  an  old  chest. 

''In  the  kitchen  chamber,"  two  feather  beds  and  fur- 
niture, two  old  flock  beds,  a  looking-glass,  a  small  chest  of 
drawers  and  a  pair  of  small  tongs  and  shovel. 

"In  the  milkhouse"  was  earthen-  and  tinware. 

"  In  the  kitchen  "  was  a  lot  of  pewter,  a  copper  and 
four  brass  kettles,  a  stew-pan  and  eleven  candlesticks  also  of 
brass,  eleven  small  chafing-dishes,  two  bell-metal  skillets, 
two  warming-pans,  two  brass  pestles  and  mortars,  a  bell- 
metal  mortar,  a  copper  pot,  a  jack,  five  spits,  three  box- 
irons,  two  gridirons,  two  pairs  of  tongs  and  shovels,  two 
dripping-pans,  one  frying-pan,  three  iron  pots,  two  small 
iron  kettles,  a  pair  of  irons  and  dogs,  five  pairs  of  pot-racks, 
a  parcel  of  books,  three  old  guns  and  a  hand-mill. 

The  household  linen  consisted  of  twelve  pairs  of  sheets  ; 
six  damask,  four  diaper  and  fifteen  huckaback  napkins;  five 
linen  pillow-cases  ;  four  towels  ;  three  damask,  four  linen 
and  six  huckaback  table-cloths;  and  two  damask  table- 
covers. 

The  above   instance,  however,  is   not  fully  represen- 

!  14 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


tative  of  the  most  opulent  class  either  in  Maryland  or  Vir- 
ginia ;  for  there  were  many  of  the  landed  gentry  who  built 
fine  mansions  that  have  become  historic  and  a  few  of 
which  still  exist.  Hugh  Jones,  who  gave  his  impressions 
of  the  country  in  The  Present  State  of  Virginia  (London, 
1724),  says:  "The  Gentlemen's  Seats  are  of  late  built  for 
the  most  part  of  good  brick  and  many  of  timber,  very  hand- 
some, commodious,  and  capacious ;  and  likewise  the  com- 
mon planters  live  in  pretty  timber  houses,  neater  than  the 
farm-houses  are  generally  in  England:  with  timber  also 
are  built  houses  for  the  overseers  and  out-houses;  among 
which  is  the  kitchen  apart  from  the  dwelling-house,  be- 
cause of  the  smell  of  hot  victuals,  offensive  in  hot  weather." 

He  also  tells  us  that  goods  were  brought  to  the  colo- 
nies so  quickly  that  new  fashions  arrived  there  even  before 
they  were  received  in  the  English  country  houses  from 
London. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  century,  were  built  or  stand- 
ing such  famous  houses  as  Tuckahoe  (Randolph),  1710; 
Rosewell  (Page),  Warner  Hall  (Lewis),  Rosegill  (Wormeley), 
Westover  (Byrd),  Shirley  (Carter),  Upper  Brandon  (Harri- 
son), Lower  Brandon  (Harrison),  Boiling  Hall  (Boiling), 
Curies  (Randolph),  Powhatan  s  Seat  (Mayo),  Belvoir  (Fair- 
fax), Stratford  (Lee),  Doughreghan  Manor  (Carroll),  Coroto- 
?nan  (Carter),  Mount  Pleasant  (Lee),  Hampton  (Ridgeley), 
Brooklandwood  (Caton),  Wye  (Lloyd),  Mount  Airy  (Cal- 
vert), The  Hermitage  (Tilghman),  Belmont  (Hanson), 
My  Lady's  Manor  (Carroll),  Montvi/le  (Aylett),  White 
Marsh  (Tabb),  Montrose  (Marshall).  No  cost  or  care  was 
spared  to  render  their  interiors  comfortable  and  beautiful. 
Occasionally  an  early  visitor  gives  us  a  glimpse  of  the 
apartments.     One  of  the  most  amusing  of  these  occurs  in 

us 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


William  Byrd's  Progress  to  the  Mines  (1732):  "Then 
I  came  into  the  main  country  road  that  leads  from  Freder- 
icksburg to  Germanna,  which  last  place  I  reached  in  ten 
miles  more.  This  famous  town  consists  of  Col.  Spots- 
wood's  enchanted  castle  on  one  side  of  the  street,  and  a 
baker's  dozen  of  ruinous  tenements  on  the  other,  where 
so  many  German  families  had  dwelt  some  years  ago.  .  .  . 
Here  I  arrived  about  three  o'clock,  and  found  only  Mrs. 
Spotswood  at  home,  who  received  her  old  acquaintance 
with  many  a  gracious  smile.  I  was  taken  into  a  room 
elegantly  set  off  with  pier  glasses,  the  largest  of  which 
came  soon  after  to  an  odd  misfortune.  Amongst  other 
favourite  animals  that  cheered  this  lady's  solitude,  a  brace 
of  tame  deer  ran  familiarly  about  the  house,  and  one  of 
them  came  to  stare  at  me  as  a  stranger.  But  unluckily 
spying  his  own  figure  in  the  glass,  he  made  a  spring  over 
the  tea  table  that  stood  under  it,  and  shattered  the  glass  to 
pieces,  and  falling  back  upon  the  tea  table  made  a  terrible 
fracas  among  the  china.  This  exploit  was  so  sudden,  and 
accompanied  with  such  a  noise,  that  it  surprised  me,  and 
perfectly  frightened  Mrs.  Spotswood.  But  it  was  worth  all 
the  damage  to  show  the  moderation  and  good  humour  with 
which  she  bore  the  disaster." 

A  still  earlier  contemporary  picture  of  domestic  condi- 
tions occurs  in  the  Diary  of  John  Fontaine,  quoted  in  the 
Virginia  Historical  Magazine  (1895).  After  a  visit  to 
Beverly  Park,  in  171  5,  Fontaine  writes: 

June  14th. — The  weather  was  very  bad,  and  rained 
hard.  We  were  very  kindly  received.  We  diverted 
ourselves  within  doors,  and  drank  very  heartily  of 
wine  of  his  own  making  which  was  good  ;  but  I  find 
by  the  taste  of  the  wine  that  he  did  not  understand 

116 


DRESSING-GLASS  AND  CHEST  OF  DRAWERS 

See  page  7^6. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


how  to  make  it.  This  man  lives  well  ;  but  though 
rich,  he  has  nothing  in  or  about  his  house  but  what 
is  necessary.  He  hath  good  beds  in  his  house  but 
no  curtains  ;  and  instead  of  cane  chairs,  he  hath  stools 
made  of  wood.  He  lives  upon  the  product  of  his 
land. 

For  a  complete  view  of  the  contents  of  one  of  the 
great  houses  we  cannot  do  better  than  take  the  home  of 
Robert  Carter  at  Corotoman. 

"At  the  home  plantation:"  Seventeen  Black  Leather 
chairs,  and  two  ditto  stools,  one  large  Table  one  "  mid- 
dling ditto,"  and  one  small  table,  one  Black  walnut  Desk 
and  one  black  walnut  corner  cupboard  and  one  large 
looking-glass  are  found  in  the  "old  house  Dining-Room." 
In  the  Dining-Room  besides  china,  copper  coffee-pots, 
candlesticks,  chafing-dishes  and  glasses,  there  is  mention  of 
one  "secrutore  and  one  Bark  Gamott  Table."  The 
"  Chamber  over  the  Dining-Room"  is  supplied  with  "four 
feather-beds,  four  bolsters,  six  pillows,  four  ruggs,  one  quilt, 
three  prs  Blanketts,  one  pr  blew  chaney  curtains,  vallens, 
Teaster  and  head-piece,  one  pr  stamped  cotton  curtains, 
vallens,  teaster  and  headp8,  one  square  Table,  two  high 
Bedsteads  and  one  Trundle  Bedstead,  three  cane  chairs, 
five  leather  chairs,  a  dressing-glass,  twelve  Bed  chaney  chair 
cushions,  one  pr  Iron  Doggs,  one  pr  Fire  tongs,  one 
shovel." 

In  the  lower  chamber  there  were  eleven  leather  chairs 
and  one  new  one,  four  cane  chairs  and  an  arm-chair. 

The  chamber  over  the  lower  chamber  contained  two 
high  bedsteads,  two  black-walnut  oval  tables,  large  and 
small,  a  dressing-glass,  five  cane  chairs  and  an  arm-chair, 
iron  dogs,  fire-tongs  and  shovel,  two  pairs  of  white  cotton 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


window-curtains  and  valance.  Each  bedstead  was  furnished 
with  a  teaster;  one  had  white  cotton  curtains,  valance  and 
headpiece,  and  the  other  a  pair  of  "  blew  and  white  cotton 
and  linen  chex  and  vallens  and  white  linen  headpiece," 
while  there  were  two  feather-beds,  two  bolsters,  four  pil- 
lows, four  quilts,  four  blankets  and  two  rugs. 

The  porch  chamber  contained  a  feather-bed,  bolster, 
pillow,  quilt,  rug  and  a  blanket,  one  pair  "norch  cotton 
curtains  and  Vallens  lined  with  Searsucker  and  a  Searsucker 
headpiece  and  teaster,  six  blew  chaney  chairs,  one  do.  do. 
arm-chair." 

In  the  Brick  House  Chamber  we  find  one  standing  bed- 
stead and  one  trundle-bedstead,  six  sets  of  seersucker  bed- 
curtains,  two  bolsters,  three  pillows,  two  pairs  of  blankets 
and  two  quilts,  two  pairs  of  cotton  window-curtains,  a  large 
black-walnut  oval  table,  two  small  oval  tables,  "one  glass 
Japp'd  Scrutoire,  one  Jappan'd  square  small  table,  one 
India  Skreen,"  a  dressing-glass,  "five  blew  silk  Camlet 
chairs,"  one  large  looking-glass,  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  chair 
with  a  red  leather  seat,  two  brass  candlesticks,  a  poker  and 
fire-shovel  and  a  pair  broken  andirons. 

In  the  chamber  over  the  lower  chamber  there  was  a 
feather-bed,  bolster,  pillow,  quilt  and  a  pair  of  blankets, 
a  trundle-bedstead,  a  desk,  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  dressing- 
glass,  six  chairs  with  "red  leather  seats,  two  stools  with 
ditto,"  a  small  square  black-walnut  table,  "  a  small  oval 
ditto  with  red  velvet  on  top,"  and  one  pair  of  handirons. 

In  the  Brick  Store  there  was  a  black-walnut  book-case, 
and  in  the  "Chamber  over  ye  Brick  Store,"  "a  surveying 
instrument,  two  cane  chairs,  one  old  leather  ditto,  a  square 
table,  a  dressing-glass,  a  chest  of  drawers,  two  high  bed- 
steads, a  pair  searsucker  curtains,  vallens  and  head  cloths, 

118 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


DESK,  DRESSING  TABLE  AND  TWO  CHAIRS 
These  four  pieces  are  from  Lafayette's  room,  Mount  Vernon. 


one  pair  blew  and  white  cotton  chex  curtains  and  vallens, 
a  pr  stuff  curtains  and  vallens,  a  pr  stamped  cotton  cur- 
tains and  vallens  and  head  cloths,  and  a  pair  striped  cotton 
curtains  and  vallens." 

In  the  Brick  House  Loft  were  seven  trunks,  seven  old 
cane  chairs,  a  bedstead,  a  small  oval  card-table,  a  black 
leather  chair,  a  chair  with  a  Russia-leather  bottom,  a  nap- 
kin-press, a  chest  of  drawers,  a  parcel  of  lumber,  "a  red 
chaney  armchair,"  four  "old  Turkey  workt  chairs,  two 
skreens,"  and  "a  large  oyle  cloth  to  lay  under  a  table." 

The  kitchen  had  a  full  share  of  utensils,  but  no  wooden 
furniture  is  mentioned. 

In  the  kitchen  loft  there  was  a  feather-bed,  with  bolster, 
pillow,  two  blankets,  rug  and  a  pair  of  canvas  sheets. 

On  this  page  are  shown  specimens  from  "  Lafayette's 
Room"  in  Mount  Vernon.     The  chair  on  the  right  is  a 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


very  early  specimen  of  mahogany,  with  plain  square  legs 
and  straining-rails  and  peculiarly  curved  back  and  unpierced 
splat.  The  rockers  are  probably  later  additions.  The 
mahogany  desk  and  letter-case  was  a  favorite  form  about 
the  middle  of  the  century.  One  advantage  of  this  form 
was  that  it  could  be  placed  near  the  fire  so  that  the  writer 
might  enjoy  the  warmth  and  be  screened  at  the  same  time. 
The  mahogany  dressing-table  on  slender  legs,  with  three 
tiers  of  drawers  and  looking-glass,  is  rather  later  in  date. 
The  painted  chair  is  still  later. 

We  have  already  seen  how  extremely  bare  were  the 
houses  of  the  artisan  class  in  the  early  days  of  the  South. 
On  examining  many  of  the  inventories  we  are  forcibly 
reminded  of  Mr.  Lear's  lines: 

"  I>i  the  middle  of  the  woods 
Lived  the  Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. 
One  old  chair  and  half  a  candle, 
One  old  jug  without  a  handle, 
In  the  middle  of  the  woods — 
These  were  all  the  worldly  goods 
Of  the  Yongby-Bonghy-Bo." 

Some  authorities  maintain  that  the  lists  of  the  deceased's 
effects  were  not  exhaustive;  but  if  that  is  so,  we  may  ask 
why  they  were  drawn  up  at  all.  They  would  be  valueless 
unless  complete.  Moreover,  we  have  evidence  that  the 
appraisers  usually  did  their  work  with  scrupulous  fidelity. 
At  the  period  when  it  was  unusual  for  the  windows  to  be 
glazed,  the  panes  of  glass  were  measured  and  appraised. 
Articles  of  quite  contemptible  value,  also,  are  frequently 
mentioned.  "A  sorry  covelid "  and  "a  parcel  of  old 
trumpery  "  are  common  items.  An  extreme  example 
occurs  among  the  possessions  of  George  Rayes,  1699.  The 

120 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


appraisers  could  scarcely  have  been  serious  when  they 
recorded  "  i  night  cap  nothing  worth  oo-oo-oo." 

In  Thomas  Gadsden's  inventory  (1745)  "an  old  cane 
black  leather  chair  worth  nothing"  occurs. 

Our  forefathers  regarded  their  belongings  with  much 
affection ;  evidently  the  sentimental  is  far  above  the  intrinsic 
value.  In  large  families  the  household  goods  would  often 
be  almost  entirely  distributed  among  the  children  by  specific 
legacies  on  the  death  of  the  owner.  Nevertheless,  when 
the  younger  generation  bought  furniture  it  would  naturally 
be  of  the  newest  fashion,  since  anything  old,  not  being  a 
bequest,  was  regarded  with  disfavour.  An  "  old  fashion  " 
piece  stood  on  the  same  level  with  one  "damnified,"  and 
in  the  inventories  is  so  recorded  and  reduced  in  value. 

T.  Gadsden,  1 74 1 ,  has  one  "old  fashion  case  of  drawers 
inlaid  with  ivory,  £1."  In  the  same  inventory  ^1  is  the 
stated  value  of  two  Windsor  chairs  ;  of  two  straw-bottomed 
chairs  and  one  old  napkin  ;  of  two  sconce-arms,  and  of  a 
bottle  of  Rhenish  wine,  respectively  —  which  gives  us  some 
idea  of  the  appraiser's  lack  of  veneration  for  age. 

We  have  already  seen  how  a  rich  planter  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  took  his  silver  plate  to  London  to  have  it 
melted  down  and  made  up  again  in  the  latest  fashion. 
This  difference  in  value  between  old  and  new  is  constantly 
in  evidence.  Thomas  Gadsden,  cited  above,  possessed 
"163  oz  old  plate,  ^"326;  282^  oz  fashionable  do., 
^776-17-6;  1  tea  kettle  stand  and  lamp  6j]/2  oz,  £202- 
1  0-0 ;  2  canisters  and  sugar  dish  29  oz,  ^72-10-0."  The 
difference  in  value  between  the  articles  of  the  last  two 
items  might  be  due  to  the  workmanship;  but  an  arbitrary 
difference  of  about  $3-75  Per  ounce  between  "old"  and 
"fashionable"  plate  is  very  considerable. 

1 2 1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  rage  for  the  new  partly  accounts  for  the  strange 
medley  of  styles  and  periods  with  which  the  homes  were 
filled.  As  time  passed  on,  the  old  furniture  fell  into  decay, 
and,  not  being  cherished,  was  relegated  to  the  garret,  the 
kitchen  or  the  slaves'  quarters,  and  the  new  reigned  in  its 
stead.  It  naturally  follows  that  even  if  the  South  had  not 
suffered  so  terribly  in  the  Revolutionary  and  Civil  wars 
from  incendiarism,  we  should  still  expect  to  find  specimens 
of  seventeenth-century  and  early  eighteenth-century  furni- 
ture exceedingly  scarce.  The  same  process  occurred  in 
England.  When  an  exhibition  of  seventeenth-century  furni- 
ture was  in  preparation  in  London  a  few  years  ago,  very 
few  specimens  were  discoverable  in  the  ancient  mansions 
and  castles.  It  was  in  the  cottages  of  the  adjoining  villages 
that  many  of  the  forgotten  and  despised  tables,  chairs, 
chests,  etc.,  were  found. 

Any  relic  from  the  home  of  one  of  the  leaders  in  the 
Revolution  is  regarded  with  affectionate  and  pious  reverence 
by  his  descendants.  The  mahogany  secretary  and  chair 
facing  this  page  are  characteristic  specimens  of  furniture  of 
the  period.  The  two  jar-shaped  splats  and  plain  square  legs 
are  found  in  many  examples  of  the  cornered  chair.  The 
secretary  is  quite  simple  and  unornamented.  Both  chair  and 
desk  belonged  to  Patrick  Henry,  whose  bust  stands  on  the 
desk,  which  still  contains  many  of  his  papers.  He  died  at 
Red  Hill,  while  sitting  in  this  chair,  in  1799.  Both 
pieces  are  owned  by  his  grandson,  Mr.  William  Wirt 
Henry,  of  Richmond,  Va. 

As  a  rule  the  appraisers  are  content  to  mention  the 
number  of  articles  and  the  materials  of  which  they  are 
composed,  adding  the  shape  in  the  case  of  tables;  but  now 
and  again  we  come  across  a  stray  detail  of  description  for 

122 


0 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


which  we  are  grateful.  When  this  is  the  case,  it  is  prob- 
ably because  the  fashion  is  new,  or  at  least  novel,  to  the 
appraiser.  Thus  when  Maurice  Lewis  is  found  with  "  a 
small  desk  and  drawer  on  casters,  £8,"  we  may  conclude 
that  casters  were  not  yet  common  on  furniture  legs,  and, 
indeed,  this  is  the  first  instance  I  have  found  in  South 
Carolina.     Another  instance  of  this  kind  is  the  claw-foot 


FOUR   INTERESTING  CHAIRS 

Chairs  in  the  River  Room,  Mount  Vernon.  The  one  next  to  the  extreme  right  belonged  to 
Benjamin  Franklin. 


and  ball,  which  probably  came  from  the  East  through  the 
Dutch.  It  would  be  sure  to  excite  remark,  but  I  have 
not  found  it  in  South  Carolina  before  1 740,  when  Eliza- 
beth Greene  has  a  "  claw-foot  mahogany  table,  £4."  The 
Chippendale  period  is  but  just  beginning. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  inquire  how  close  the  ap- 
praisal was  to  the  value  of  the  articles  when  sold  by  public 
auction,  and  the  reply  is  that  there  was  not  that  woful  gap 
between  price  and  value  that  saddens  the  householder  to- 
day when  his  possessions  are  brought  to  the  hammer.  The 
records  of  South  Carolina  in  1 747  show  that  the  mahogany 

123 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


furniture  of  Sarah  Saxby  brought  more  than  the  appraisers 
thought  it  was  worth.     The  two  lists  are  worth  preserving. 


Public 

Appraisal 

Vendue 

/ 

s. 

d. 

£  d. 

I 

India  cabinet  frame 

T  D- 

— O- 

24-O-O 

I 

cedar  dressing  table  and  glass 

IO- 

-0- 

-O 

1  7-5-° 

1 

9  ma  11  manncrnnv  fa  Kip 

4" 

10- 

-O 

0 — u — u 

1 

mahogany  dressing  table  and 

glass  .... 

I5- 

-0- 

-O 

20—2—0 

I 

mahogany  dressing  table  and 

glass  .... 

12- 

-0- 

-O 

1 5-1 5-0 

I 

large  mahogany  table 

12- 

-0- 

-O 

1 5-0-0 

I 

small     do  do 

5- 

-0- 

-0 

7-10-0 

I 

mahogany  couch 

5- 

-0- 

-O 

17-5-0 

I 

bed  etc. 

3o- 

-0- 

-O 

40-1 5-0 

1 

do  ... 

20- 

-0- 

-O 

40-0-0 

1 

mahogany  sideboard 

7- 

-0- 

-O 

8-10-0 

1 

mahogany  corner  cupboard 

3- 

-0- 

-O 

4-12-6 

1 1  old  chairs,  matted  bottoms 

10- 

-0- 

-O 

f  6-5-0 

and  i  easy  leather  chair 

i  5-17-6 

On  page  1  23  are  shown  chairs  from  the  "  River  Room  " 
at  Mount  Vernon.  The  chair  on  the  right  is  an  early  ex- 
ample of  mahogany  of  the  Chippendale  school  with  ob- 
vious Dutch  influence.  It  was  in  President  Washington's 
house  in  Philadelphia,  and  is  a  good  type  of  many  chairs  in 
use  before  the  Revolution.  The  chair  next  to  it  belonged 
to  Benjamin  Franklin.  It  is  rush-bottomed  and  the  sup- 
ports of  the  low  arms  being  set  at  diagonal  corners  gives  it 
the  effect  of  a  three-cornered  chair.  The  front  leg  is 
square  and  the  three  others  turned;  the  straining-rails  cross 
each  other  diagonally.     The  two  jar-shaped  splats  in  the 

124 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


back  are  perforated.  This  style  is  not  at  all  uncommon.  One 
in  possession  of  Patrick  Henry  is  shown  facing  page  122. 

The  third  chair  also  belongs  to  this  period.  The  ele- 
gance of  the  lines  and  the  careful  distribution  of  light 
and  dark  in  the  jar-shaped  splat  and  outside  space  bounded 
by  the  frame  show  the  hand  of  an  artist  of  the  Chippen- 
dale school.  The  cabriole  leg,  with  eagle  claw  and  ball 
foot,  is  less  squat  than  usual ;  the  common  shell  ornament 
appears  on  the  knee.  The  fourth  chair  is  a  Hepplewhite  of 
later  date. 

Some  of  the  houses  of  the  middle  of  the  century  con- 
tained a  generous  supply  of  china,  glass  and  plate.  The 
inventory  of  the  goods  and  chattels  of  Joseph  Wragg,  Esq., 
although  the  total  is  only  ^"2,908-1  7-6,  shows  an  aston- 
ishing quantity  of  tableware  of  all  kinds,  including  561 
ounces  three  pennyweights  of  silver  plate  worth  ^1,139-1- 
6  ;  three  dozen  knives  and  forks,  jTj\ ;  twenty-five  enam- 
elled china  bowls,  ^27-15-0;  six  flowered  ditto,  ^0-15-0; 
five  blue-and-white  soup-dishes,  ^8 ;  five  other  small 
blue-and-white  dishes,  ^"5-10-0;  two  small  enamelled 
dishes,  ^3;  one  small  blue-and-white  ditto,  ^"0-15-0; 
forty-eight  enamelled  soup-plates,  ^'20;  fifteen  blue-and- 
white  ditto,  ^6  ;  seventeen  butter-saucers,  £2 ;  coffee 
and  tea  china  set,  ^5;  a  china  jar,  ^1  ;  three  sugar-dishes, 
^3  ;  a  china  mug,  £1  ;  three  dishes,  J~i-\$  ;  seven  plates, 
^"i-io  ;  "  Delf  ware,"  ^8;  two  pairs  of  port  decanters 
with  ground  stoppers,  ^3;  six  water-glasses,  ^0-15-0; 
forty-two  tumblers,  ^3;  132  jelly-  and  syllabub-glasses, 
^5;  ninety-six  patty-pans,  £2;  twenty-three  knives  and 
forks,  ^5  ;  seventy-two  pewter  plates  and  thirteen  dishes, 
X40;  104  wine-glasses,  ^"10;  mustard-pots,  salts,  cruets, 
tea-kettle,  beer-glasses,  etc.,  ^14-5-0.     In  addition  to  this 

125 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


he  had  much  table-linen,  including  114  damask  napkins 
and  eighteen  diaper  table-cloths. 

As  illustrations  of  these  dining-room  appointments  we 
cannot  do  better  than  take  the  wine-cooler,  whiskey-bottle 
and  dumb-waiter,  silver  cream-jug  on  a  silver  salver,  copper 
tea-urn  and  wine-cup  of  Mr.  Thomas  Boiling,  Richmond. 
The  wine-cooler  dates  from  the  very  end  of  our  period  ; 
it  is  of  mahogany,  brass-bound,  and  inlaid  with  satinwood. 
The  bottle  standing  upon  it,  with  a  corn-cob  stopper,  has 
"Boiling,  Cobbs  1772"  blown  in  the  glass.  Both  articles 
came  from  Cobbs,  Virginia,  the  residence  of  Thomas  Boi- 
ling, a  direct  ancestor  of  the  present  owner.  The  dumb- 
waiter comes  from  Montville,  Virginia,  the  home  of  the 
Ayletts.  The  wine-cup  is  a  piece  of  the  old  Randolph  silver 
and  bears  their  coat  of  arms  and  crest.  The  cream-jug, 
silver  salver  and  copper  urn  belonged  to  the  Boiling  family. 

One  diversion  of  the  planter's  life  was  gambling.  In 
contemporary  letters,  the  propensity  of  the  ladies  of 
the  family  to  spend  their  days  and  nights  playing  loo  is 
probably  overdrawn  ;  but  we  have  ample  evidence  of  the 
excess  to  which  playing  was  carried  among  the  men. 
Bowls,  shuffle-board,  chess  and  cards  were  largely  in- 
dulged in  during  the  seventeenth  century,  and  the  efforts  of 
the  authorities  to  suppress  gambling  were  futile.  De  Vries, 
an  old  Dutch  captain  who  visited  Jamestown  in  1633, 
was  astonished  at  finding  the  planters  inveterate  gamblers, 
even  staking  their  servants.  In  his  righteous  indignation 
he  protested  he  had  "  never  seen  such  work  in  Turkey  or 
Barbery."  The  chief  games  were  piquet,  trump,  lanterloo, 
ombre,  hazard,  basset,  faro  and  ecarte.  Early  in  the 
eighteenth  century  special  tables  were  constructed  for  card 
games ;  those  for  ombre  were  sometimes  three-cornered, 

126 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


though  the  game  allowed  three,  four  or  five  players.  They 
were  often  covered  with  green  cloth. 

An  early  and  handsome  mahogany  card-table  facing  page 
1 1 8,  divides  diagonally.  The  legs  are  rounded  and  straight, 
terminating  in  bird's  claw  and  ball  feet.  The  casters  were 
probably  added  later.  One  leg  draws  out  as  a  support  for 
the  leaf  when  raised.  The  chairs  are  of  considerably  later 
date,  from  Belleville.  These  specimens  are  owned  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  George  W.  Mayo,  Richmond,  Va. 

In  1 74 1  T.  Gadsden  (South  Carolina)  had  a  card-table 
covered  with  sealskin  valued  at  ^7-10-0.  Many  of  the 
card-tables  of  the  early  eighteenth  century,  however,  have 
plain  polished  surfaces.  They  usually  have  a  folding  top  on 
a  hinge,  with  a  leg  to  draw  out,  such  as  the  one  facing  page 
118.  In  many  cases  there  is  one  pool  or  hollow  at  each 
corner  for  counters,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  table  belong- 
ing to  Dr.  Brinton  on  page  108.  In  1727,  we  find  "a 
parcel  of  fish  and  counters,  ^4."  The  fish  were  of  bone, 
ivory  or  mother-of-pearl,  and  the  counters  were  round 
or  oval.  In  ombre  a  fish  was  worth  ten  round  counters. 
The  card-tables  brought  into  the  South  were  quite  expen- 
sive. If  we  look  at  a  few  examples  from  South  Carolina, 
we  find  one  belonging  to  S.  Pickering  in  1728  valued  at 
£6 :  a  sum  equal  to  that  of  three  Dutch  tables  and  a  couch 
and  squab  combined  in  the  same  inventory.  Other  instances 
are:  a  fine  walnut  card-table,  £20;  a  walnut  do.,  £7; 
a  card-table,  ^"10;  ditto,  ^"6-10-0;  a  black  frame  ditto, 
^2-10-0;  and  many  others  from  ^"1  up.  Dr.  J.  Gaultier 
possessed  one  quadrille-table  (£8),  in  1746.  Quadrille 
succeeded  ombre  in  fashionable  favour ;  it  was  a  modifi- 
cation of  the  old  game  that  was  supreme  during  the  reigns 
of  Anne  and  the  first  George. 

127 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Other  games  existed  in  the  South  at  an  early  date,  for 
in  1727  we  find  a  shuffle-board  table  and  eight  pieces  worth 
^3-10-0;  in  1733  J.  Main,  of  South  Carolina,  owns  a  pair 
of  backgammon-tables  valued  at  ^8  and  a  truck-table,  sticks 
and  balls,  worth  no  less  than  ^90.  The  latter  was  a 
favourite  old  English  game  known  as  "lawn  billiards,"  but 
its  name  was  originally  Spanish, —  trucos  or  troco.  In  the 
centre  of  the  green  there  was  an  iron  ring  moving  on  a 
pivot,  and  the  object  was  to  drive  the  ball  through  the 
ring.  Backgammon-boards  or  -tables  and  checker-boards 
were  very  popular.  To  take  a  few  early  examples:  J. 
Lewis  had  a  madeira-table  with  "baggamon  "  tables  worth 
^15  in  1733;  T.  Somerville,  two  backgammon-tables 
(^11)  in  1734;  T.  Gadsden  a  backgammon-board  (^4) 
in  1741  ;  and  in  1744  we  find  two  checker-boards  valued  at 
£1.  A  Mississippi  board  also  shows  that  this  form  of 
bagatelle  was  known  quite  early. 

Thus  we  are  satisfied  that  the  daughters  of  Virginia  and 
her  sister  colonies  were  by  no  means  forced  to  dwell 

"  In  some  lone  isle,  or  distant  Northern  land, 
Habere  the  gilt  chariot  never  marks  the  way, 
Ifbefe  none  learn  ornbre,  none  e'er  taste  Babea." 

Whether  the  ladies  of  the  South  drank  much  wine  or 
not,  they  certainly  drank  a  great  deal  of  tea.  Coffee  and 
chocolate  also  were  favourite  fashionable  beverages.  The 
tea-table,  and  often  more  than  one,  stood  in  most  parlours. 
It  was  smaller  than  the  ordinary  table  and  existed  in  all 
woods  and  shapes.  The  tea-service  was  always  in  readiness 
upon  it.  The  table  was  generally  covered  with  a  small 
cloth  or  "  toilet."  The  earliest  examples  seem  to  be  the 
Dutch  and  japanned  tables.     The  following  are  from  South 

1 28 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Carolina:    A   japanned  hand  tea-table  1722;  two 

japanned  tea-tables  (^"4),  a  small  square  ditto  (J^  1 1,  and  a 
little  round  oak  ditto  (^0-10-0),  I723  5  a  tea-table  and 
china  tea-set  (^15),  !724>  a  hand  tea-table  with  bowls 
and  cups  1725;  a  parcel  of  tea-table  ware  (^14), 

1732;  a  tea-equipage 
(^4),  and  two  tea- 
tables  with  two  toilets 

Uis)>  1 733 ;  a  round 

three-legged  tea-table 
(^"10),  1738;  a  Dutch 
ditto  (/"1-10-0),  I74°; 
a  tea-table,  china,  a  jar 
and  stand  (^"1  o),  1 74 1  ; 
a  japanned  tea-table 
with  tea-service  thereon 
(j£8),  and  a  tea-table 
and  china  (^10),  1  742  ; 
a  mahogany  tea-table 
17 '45  ;  one  ditto 
and  tea-board  (£5) ;  an 
oval  stand  tea-table 
(^"2);  a  madeira  round 

tea-table  (£6);  and  an  India  tea-table  (^12),  1746  ;  a  ma- 
hogany pedestal  tea-table  (£6),  1754.  In  1725,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Crook  owned  a  tea-table,  forty-one  dishes  with  saucers, 
and  three  basins,  all  china  (^36).  In  many  Southern 
houses  these  dishes,  which  are  simple  little  bowls  or  cups 
without  handles,  have  been  preserved. 

Other  articles  connected  with  the  preparation  and  ser- 
vice of  tea  are  a  mahogany  tea-box  (^3-10-0),  1736;  a 
japanned  tea-box  with  canisters  (^3),  four  mahogany  tea- 


WINDSOR  ARM-CHAIR 

Arm-chair  of  a  pattern  introduced  into  America  as  early 
as  1770,  and  followed  many  years  without  change  ;  exact 
date  uncertain. 


I-'-, 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


boards  (^i-io-o)  ;  a  silver  tea-kettle  stand  and  lamp,  weigh- 
ing 67^  ounces  (£202- 1  0-0) ;  ashagreen  tea-chest  with  two 
canisters  and  sugar-dish,  29  ounces  (^72-10-0)  ;  and  a  sha- 
green small  case,  twelve  tea-spoons,  a  strainer  and  tongs 
(/io),  and  a  silver  tea-kettle(^~5o),  1742;  a  tea-chest  and 
tea-board  (£5),  1744;  a  mahogany  tea-tray  (^0-18-4), 
and  two  japanned  ditto  (^"0-6-8),  1745;  a  mahogany  tea- 
chest  (^"2-10-0),  two  japanned  tea-boards  (^"1-10-0),  a  ma- 
hogany tea-chest  a  large  painted  sugar-box  (^1  -1 0-0), 
and  two  mahogany  tea-boards  (^3-10-0),  1746;  and  a  tea- 
kettle and  lamp  on  a  mahogany  stand  (j£6)t  1 75 1 .  At 
this  date  we  are  getting  into  the  Chippendale  period,  when 
tea-chests,  tea-trays,  tables,  etc.,  receive  considerable  atten- 
tion from  the  famous  cabinet-makers. 

It  was  the  correct  thing  to  make  the  tea  at  the  table,  as 
the  spirit-lamps  show.  The  coffee,  also,  was  frequently 
ground  as  well  as  infused  at  the  table. 

The  taste  for  china  was  as  universal  in  the  South  as  that 
for  ombre  and  madeira.  In  1722  Edward  Arden  possessed 
a  cabinet  and  chinaware  together  worth  ^10;  also  a  corner 
cupboard  containing  china,  and  two  tea-tables  (^16);  then 
we  have  buffet  and  chinaware  (^50),  D.Gale,  1725;  china 
and  glass  (^55),  ditto  on  the  scrutore  (^15),  Hon.  A.  Mid- 
dleton,  1738;  "china  and  glass  in  ye  buffet"  (£5),  A. 
Skeene,  1 741.  In  1744,  moreover,  T.  Oliver  possesses  a 
china-table  (j£6).  We  frequently  come  across  china  on 
the  mantelpiece  also,  so  that  by  the  aid  of  the  latter,  cabi- 
nets, tea-tables,  china-tables,  corner  cupboards  and  buffets, 
the  rooms  were  pretty  liberally  sprinkled  with  varieties  of 
porcelain.  That  these  were  not  merely  intended  for  use  is 
plain  from  many  entries,  a  typical  one  of  which  is  "a  parcel  of 
glass  images,  toys,  etc."  (£1-1 0-0),  Anne  Le  Brasseur,  17420 

130 


THREE  MAHOGANY  PIECES 

Eighteenth-century  spoon-case,  knife-box  and  tea-caddy.     Owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Willis,  of  Charleston,  S.  C 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


This  forcibly  reminds  us 
of  the  china  monstrosities 
satirised  in  Hogarth's  pic- 
tures of  high  life. 

The  china  services 
were  often  quite  expen- 
sive. In  1733  J.  Lewis 
has  "  china  ware"  (£32), 
and  J.  Satur's  nine  china 
plates  are  appraised  at 
^4-10.  Anne  Le  Bras- 
seur  (1742)  has  a  large 
variety  of  china,  including 
among  other  articles  two 
large  china  dishes,  ; 
one  large  china  bowl,  ^4; 
a  mahogany  waiter  with 
chinaware   thereon,  £2. 

The  china,  glass  and 
earthenware  belonging  to 
T.  Gadsden  amounted  to 
^167-1-8;  he  also  owned 
two  baskets  for  china  plates,  valued  at  ten  shillings.  J.  Mat- 
thews (1744)  had  china  and  glass  worth  ^46;  he  also  had 
six  hot-water  plates,  valued  at  ^'8  ;  the  latter  were  evidently 
comparatively  new.  Six  years  before  this  Edward  Hext 
had  owned  the  same  number,  then  valued  at  ^jo,  which 
was  the  same  price  attributed  to  his  dressing-table  and 
glass,  or  his  tea-table  and  china,  in  the  same  inventory. 

The  plate,  glass,  cutlery,  earthenware  and  all  articles 
for  use  at  meals  show  constantly  increasing  elegance  as  the 
century  advances.     Forks  were  coming  into  more  general 


CHAIR 

From  Washington's  presidential  mansion — a  duplicate 
is  at  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  See 
page  89. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


use  about  1700,  and  the  choice  kinds  of  knives  as  well  as 
forks  and  spoons  had  handles  of  agate,  silver  and  ivory.  A 
tew  examples  may  be  given  of  the  amount  of  silver  plate  listed 
as  "various,"  the  number  of  ounces  being  usually  stated.  T. 
Grimball,  ^240-10-0,  1722;  T.  Rose,  ^208,  1733;  T. 
Somerville,  ^55°'  !734'  Leacroft,  ^100,  1738;  E. 
Greene,  ^"336,  1740;  T.  Gadsden,  ^1,102-17-6,  1 74 1  ; 
N.  Serre,  ^552-6-6,  1746;  G.  Heskett,  ^292-10-0;  E. 
Fowler,  .£131-5-0;  and  the  Hon.  J.  Colleton,  £"929-10-0, 

In  Virginia  and  Maryland  also  the  tables  of  the  wealthy 
were  bright  with  silver.  Samuel  Chew,  of  Ann  Arundel 
County,  whose  personal  estate  in  171 8  was  valued  at 
£"7,225-14-5,  possessed  "new  plate,  £"63-1-10,  old  plate, 
£235-6-0."  In  1728  Colonel  Thomas  Lee's  house  was 
robbed  and  burned,  and  the  following  advertisement  in 
the  Maryland  Gazette,  March  1  1,  1728,  gives  some  idea  of 
his  family  plate.  This  plate  had  on  it  the  coat  of  arms  or 
crest  belonging  to  the  name  of  Lee. 

"  Stolen  out  of  the  house  of  Col.  Thomas  Lee,  in  Vir- 
ginia (some  time  before  it  was  burnt),  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  valuable  plate,  viz.,  Two  Caudle  Cups,  three  pints 
each.  One  chocolate  pot,  one  coffee  pot.  One  Tea  pot, 
Three  Castors,  Four  Salts.  A  plate  with  the  Cortius  arms. 
A  pint  tumbler,  ditto  arms.  Four  candlesticks.  One  or  two 
pint  cans.  A  funnel  for  quart  bottles,  no  arms  on  it. 
A  pair  of  snuffers  and  stand,  etc." 

The  growing  use  of  forks  does  not  seem  to  have  less- 
ened the  necessity  of  napkins,  which  in  the  better  class 
of  houses  were  of  damask  and  diaper,  as  were  also  the 
table-cloths.  Damask  was  the  most  expensive.  Huckaback 
and  coarse  linen  napkins  were  also  largely  used.     In  South 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Carolina  we  find  Mary  Mullins  ( 1 730)  with  a  damask  table- 
cloth, -£y,  and  two  table-cloths  and  twenty-four  napkins, 
^"36.  The  high  price  set  on  table-linen  is  more  fully 
realized  when  we  compare  the  above  with  one  dozen 
leather-bottom  chairs,  ^15,  in  the  same  inventory.  Two 
years  later  S.  Screven's  nine  table-cloths  and  thirty  napkins 
are  esteemed  of  equal  value  with  his  four  tables,  ten  chairs, 
one  chest  and  one  looking-glass,  ^25-15-0.  T.  Gadsden 
(1741)  had  table-linen  appraised  at  ^68-2-6;  and  J. 
Matthews  (1745)  at  £j2. 

The  shagreen  cases  in  which  the  fine  cutlery  was  kept 
were  boxes,  square  or  rounded  in  the  front,  about  a  foot 
high,  with  a  lid  sloping  down  toward  the  front.  The  in- 
terior was  divided  into  as  many  little  square  partitions  as 
there  were  articles  to  be  contained ;  into  these  the  knives  were 
put,  handles  up.  The  spoons  were  placed  with  the  bowls 
up.  Thus,  rising  one  row  above  another  on  the  slope,  the 
chasing  or  other  ornamentation  was  well  displayed.  The 
boxes  were  placed  usually  at  each  end  of  the  sideboard- 
table  or  buffet,  and  the  lids,  of  course,  were  left  open  when 
required,  for  often  the  open  lids  acted  as  rests  for  silver  salvers. 
The  shagreen  cases,  of  course,  took  their  name  from  the 
leather  with  which  they  were  covered.  They  gradually 
became  more  ornate,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  century 
the  more  expensive  kinds  were  made  of  mahogany.  In 
South  Carolina  a  "  mahogany  knife-box "  occurs  in  1754. 
This  is  probably  a  production  of  the  Chippendale  school. 
The  amount  of  time  and  labour  expended  on  the  finest 
specimens  was  prodigious.  The  boxes  were  carved,  inlaid, 
and  some  had  metal  mountings.  The  great  difficulties  to 
be  overcome  consisted  in  the  curves  to  which  the  veneers 
and  inlays  had  to  be  subjected,  thus  demanding  considerable 

133 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


mathematical  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  workman. 
This  is  especially  the  case  with  the  urn-shaped  cases  which 
follow  this  period. 

Interesting  specimens  of  the  mahogany  spoon-cases, 
tea-chest  with  caddies  and  knife-boxes,  at  the  close  of 
this  period  are  owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Willis  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and?  are  shown  in  the  plate  facing  page  130. 
The  tea-chest  has  brass  feet  and  mounts.  The  spoon- 
case  is  a  very  interesting  specimen  ;  it  stands  about  two 
feet  high,  and  there  is  a  delicate  black-and-yellow  in- 
lay running  along  the  separate  pieces  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed. It  is  mounted  with  silver.  The  knife-box  has 
also  metal  mounts,  and  the  mouldings  of  the  front  show 
what  careful  workmanship  was  demanded. 

The  sideboard-table,  commonly  used  down  to  the 
Revolution,  was  simply  a  side-table.  One  of  these,  in- 
herited from  Lawrence  Washington,  was  in  the  dining- 
room  at  Mount  Vernon.  It  stood  thirty-six  inches  high,  and 
was  five  feet  long  and  half  as  wide.  It  was  made  of  black- 
walnut,  with  the  edges  and  legs  carved  with  the  bell-flower 
and  leaf  ornamentation.  In  South  Carolina,  instances  occur 
in  several  varieties  of  wood,  cedar,  "madera,"  walnut  and 
mahogany,  worth  from  ^6  to  £2.0,  sometimes  with  and 
sometimes  without  drawers.  The  table  was  usually  oblong, 
but  occasionally  square.  The  "  beaufait  "  or  buffet  also  is 
frequently  mentioned.  In  1752  Paul  Tenys  had  a  mahog- 
any buffet,  £10  ;  china  in  and  on  it,  £25.  The  buffet 
gradually  supplanted  the  sideboard,  and  finally  stole  its 
name.  The  sideboard  was  covered  with  a  cloth  of  damask 
or  diaper,  and  occasionally  we  find  mention  of  other  ma- 
terial. R.  Wright  (1747)  had  a  "mahogany  sideboard  with 
green  cover." 

1 54 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Turning  to  the  chairs,  we  first  find  cane  in  all  varieties. 
Some  of  these  had  wooden  frames  with  cane  in  the  seat,  or 
back,  or  both.  Others  were  evidently  constructed  of  cane 
throughout.  The  prices  varied  surprisingly,  evidently  ac- 
cording to  the  carving  and  turning  of  the  frames,  as  well  as 
the  age,  condition,  styles  and 
sizes.  In  171 1,  twelve  cane 
chairs  and  couch  are  appraised 
at  £B.  Josiah  Wilson  (Mary- 
land) had  three  old  rush-bot- 
tomed cane  chairs  appraised  at 
thirteen  shillings  in  171  8.  In 
the  same  year  we  find  six  cane 
chairs,  "eighteen  shillings," 
four  cane  ditto,  ^2-4-0.  In 
Carolina  we  have  six  cane, 
^1-10-0;  six  cane,  ^6-0-0 
(1722);  six  black  cane  and 
one  elbow,  ^"14  (1723); 
twelve  fine  cane  and  elbow, 
^35  (1724);  eight  cane  with 
two  cushions,  ^15;  and  four- 
teen cane,  ^'30  (1725). 

Two  years  later,  four  black 
cane  and  one  elbow  chair  are  A  CHAIR  owned  by  william  penn 

,  .  „  •      i->     1  Now  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  Philadel- 

worth  only     5.    Captain  Rob-  Phia.  see  Page  84. 
ert  Cox  in  the  same  year  had 

twenty  old  cane  chairs  at  a  pound  each,  and  twelve  new 
ones  at  thirty  shillings.  Major  William  Blazeway,  also  in 
1727,  had  six  cane-back,  £\2\  six  cane-bottom,  ^'10;  six 
with  fine  rush  bottoms,  ^'10;  and  nine  old  cane,  ^"9. 
Twelve  new  cane,  £1%,  six   cane-back,  ^10,  six  cane- 

i  55 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bottom  wooden-back,  ^'10,  also  occur  in  1727;  and,  choicest 
of  all,  twelve  walnut  cane  chairs  and  elbow  chair,  ^50 
( 1  73  1 ).  The  prices  varied  from  rive  shillings  to  four  pounds 
each  in  Carolina  currency  during  one  decade. 

In  Glen's  Afiswers  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  he  gives  a 
table  of  the  exports  and  imports  of  South  Carolina  for 
1748.  The  total  is  given  as  £1,1  25,960-3-1  1  currency, 
which  equals  ^161,365-18-0  sterling.  Thus  we  mustL 
divide  the  South  Carolina  prices'  by  seven,  at  that  date, 
when  comparing  them  with  those  of  England. 

Cane  was  used  with  all  kinds  of  wooden  frames,  and 
sometimes  cane  was  employed  throughout,  the  walnut  frame 
being  the  most  expensive.  In  1733,  John  Lewis  had  six 
maple  matted  chairs,  ^6,  six  maple  cane  do.,  ^'10,  and  one 
elbow  do.,  ^3.  In  1735,  Andrew  Allen  owned  twelve  plain 
cane  chairs,  ^  20;  twelve  do.  and  elbow  do.,  £20 ;  ,  twenty- 
four  flowered  cane  do.  and  elbow  do.,  ^"50;  and  seven  old 
chairs,  ^3.  In  1742,  we  find  six  high-backed  black  cane 
chairs  (old),  ^4.  In  the  same  year,  Edward  Hext  pos- 
sessed twelve  cane  and  one  elbow,  worth  £27,  while  his 
ten  mahogany  chairs  are  only  valued  at  £2.0,  and  nineteen 
bass-bottomed  at  ^7-10-0.  In  1745,  six  cane  elbow 
chairs  are  set  down  at  ^16.  In  1747,  bass-bottomed  cane 
chairs  are  mentioned. 

The  walnut  chair  was  made  up  in  a  variety  of  ways. 
In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  we  find  walnut 
matted,  walnut  and  bottoms  with  red  camlet  covers,  walnut 
with  rush  bottoms,  leather  bottoms,  satin  bottoms,  silk 
damask  covers,  and  red  damask  bottoms. 

The  example  of  a  chair  of  the  period  given  here  is  now 
in  the  Virginia  Historical  Society,  Richmond.  It  is  some- 
what heavy,  but  solid  and  handsome.     It  has  a  modified 

136 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


lyre-shaped  splat  pierced  with  slits  like  three  lancet  Gothic 
windows  interlacing  a  square  with  curved  sides,  the  base 
being  pierced  with  a  heart.     The  top  of  the  back  is  rolled 
over    at   the  corners 
and  centre  like  a  strap 
or  scroll.     The  front 
legs  are  cabriole  with 
shell  ornamentation 
and  claw-and-ball  feet. 
The    back    legs  are 
slightly    curved  and 
rounded. 

The  Turkey-work 
chair  is  still  in  favour, 
and  the  common  rush- 
bottomed  and  the 
choice  Russia  leather 
are  found  in  large 
numbers.  At  this 
time  the  chairs  known 
as  the  "black"  and 
"  white  "  also  came  in  ; 
the  former  was  worth 
about  ten  shillings.  Its 
shape  and  workman- 
ship   varied,    for,  in 

1725,  we  find  "  twenty-two  new  fashioned  black  chairs  and 
two  elbow"  valued  at  ^36,  and  twelve  ordinary  ones  at 
-£6.  In  1722,  ten  white  (two  low  ones)  were  valued  at  -£2. 
The  bass-bottomed  chair  was  general,  and  worth  more 
than  either  of  the  former:  "six  bass-bottomed  chairs,  ^4" 
(1722).    The  bass  was  used  with  various  frames.    In  1723, 

137 


EIGHTEENTH   CENTURY  CHAIR 

Chair  by  Thomas  Chippendale  or  some  close  imitation  of 
his  method.     The  carving  is  very  delicate.     About  1760. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


a  "  carved  wooden  bass  chair  "  was  worth  twenty-five  shill- 
ings. In  Carolina,  the  palmetto  also  was  freely  used.  We  find 
"eleven  parmetaw  chairs,  ^2-15-0"  (1722);  and  "twelve 
black  permato  chairs,  ^"8"  (1725).  The  "straw"  chair 
was  also  esteemed.  In  1727,  seven  "straw"  are  valued 
at  ^3-10-0.  The  "matted"  is  also  found,  and  it  occurs 
in  the  most  valuable  woods  :  "  twelve  walnut  matted  and 
one  elbow  chair,  ^35  "  (^S1)- 

Other  chairs  recorded  are:  fla'g,  sheepskin,  maple  mat- 
ted, cedar  chairs  with  basket  bottoms,  hickory,  red,  carved 
matted,  corner,  and,  most  expensive  of  all,  twelve  brocade- 
bottom  chairs,  ^"84  (1751).  The  "  Windsor  chair,"  the 
making  of  which  became  a  separate  industry,  made  its 
appearance  early  in  the  century.  Three  open  Windsor 
chairs  (John  Lloyd)  are  valued  at  ^3  in  1736;  and  two 
at  £1  in  1  741 . 

The  mahogany  chairs  on  page  148  are  fine  examples  of 
the  Chippendale  school  of  the  end  of  our  period.  They 
are  beautifully  carved  on  back,  arms  and  legs,  and  the  seats, 
of  course,  have  not  the  original  coverings.  They  are 
authentic  specimens  of  furniture  owned  in  Charleston 
before  the  Revolution,  and  they  are  now  in  possession  of 
Mrs.  John  Simonds  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  average  house  in  the  South  was  well  supplied  with 
seats.  Apart  from  stools,  settles,  benches  and  couches,  the 
number  of  chairs  is  often  surprising.  A  few  examples  from 
Carolina  will  show  that  there  was  ample  accommodation 
for  callers.  J.  Guerard  and  S.  Butler  possessed  forty-one 
and  forty-three  chairs  respectively  in  1723  ;  R.  Woodward 
34,  and  D.  Gale  65,  in  1725;  Captain  R.  Cox  32  (1727); 
E.  Hancock  44  (1729);  C.  W.  Glover  34,  and  S.  Screven 
40  ( 1732) ;  J.  Satur  32  and  J.  Raven  42  ( 1733)  ;  T.  Somer- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ville  50,  John  Lloyd  38,  and  John  Ramsay  43  (1734); 
Andrew  Allen  57  ( 1  735) ;  Edward  Hext  41  ( 1742)  ;  Noah 
Serre  70  (1746);  J.  Wragg  51  (1751);  and  J.  Roche  59 
(1752).  These  numbers,  however,  are  insignificant  in 
comparison  with  those  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  In  the 
inventory  of  the  estate  of  William  Bladen,  of  Annapolis, 
the  various  chairs  reach  the  astounding  total  of  one  hundred 
and  two.  The  other  Marylander,  Major  Josiah  Wilson, 
possessed  only  a  beggarly  forty-two. 

The  tables  were  equally  varied  during  this  period.  In 
shape  they  were  square,  round  and  oval,  in  all  sizes.  The 
woods  were  cedar,  pine,  oak,  English  oak,  walnut,  black 
walnut,  cypress,  poplar  and  bay.  Sometimes  they  were 
painted  black,  white  and  various  colours.  Naturally,  the 
pine  were  the  cheapest.  In  171  1,  Nathaniel  Wilkinson 
(South  Carolina)  owned:  a  large  cedar  table,  ^'2-10-0; 
two  small  tables,  ^1.  In  1722,  we  find  Thomas  Grimball 
(South  Carolina)  with:  one  old  side  table,  £1  ;  a  walnut 
oval  table,  ^4;  one  large  oval  cedar  table,  ^8;  a  small 
table,  £$;  one  side  table  with  mulberry  frame,  ^"1-10-0. 
John  Guerard,  1723,  owned:  five  square  tables,  £9;  a 
square  oak  table,  £2;  one  large  oval  table,  £6;  a  pine 
painted  table,  ^1-10-0;  an  old  oak  table,  £2. 

The  above  examples  show  the  relative  values.  In  addi- 
tion to  these  there  was  the  bay  table,  and  the  slate-topped 
table.  In  1727,  a  slate  top  table  is  valued  at  £1,  and 
Richard  Woodward  owned  a  square  bay  table  (^4),  two 
bay  and  walnut  tables  (£$),  besides  an  oval  and  cedar  table. 
The  slate  soon  led  to  the  marble.  In  1727,  Major  Wil- 
liam Blaseway  had  three  cedar  tables  (/'12),  two  Dutch 
tables  (£2)*  and  one  marble  table  in  cedar  frame  (£15). 
This  evidently  was  the  latest  thing  out.     Mahogany  ap- 

1 39 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


peared  a  little  earlier;  it  was  naturally  costly.  Major  Per- 
cival  Pawley  owned  two  mahogany  tables  in  1724,  valued 
respectively  at  £g  and  ^"i  1  ;  and  in  the  following  year 
we  find  John  Saunders  with  a  large  oval  one  at  £y-i  0-0. 
Both  men  were  rich.  Sometimes  the  tables  would  be  in 
great  variety  in  one  house.  Besides  cedar  tables,  the  in- 
ventory of  Samuel  Pickering  (1728)  includes:  one  old 
Dutch  painted  table,  £1  ;  one  Dutch  table,  ^3;  another 
Dutch  table,  £1  ;  a  screen  table,  ^"i-io-o;  and  a  card 
table,  £6. 

C.  W.  Glover  (1732)  had  six  tables  in  his  hall  alone ;  T. 
Somerville  (1734)  had  seventeen  tables  of  various  kinds. 
Among  the  varieties  found  are:  two  Madeira  tables,  ^30 
( 173  1 ) ;  one  tea  table  and  one  round  three-legged  tea  table, 
^'10  (1738);  one  round  mahogany  claw-foot  table,  £4., 
and  one  oval  table,  £6  (1740);  small  turn-up  table  with 
drawers,  ^15  (1741);  red  bay  table,  ^8  (1742);  cherry 
table,  £7  (1745);  six  mahogany  and  two  cypress  tables, 
^"40  (1745);  large  and  small  swinging  tables,  £2  (1746); 
cedar  dining  table,  £t>  (1746);  oval  maple  table,  £g 
(1746);  India  tea  table,  £12  (1746);  round  stand  mahog- 
any table,  £4.;  marble  table,  ^"io;  folding  poplar  table, 
£5  ;  little  cedar  table,  £2 ;  little  pine  table,  fifteen  shil- 
lings; painted  table  and  side  table,  ^'10  (all  1751).  In 
1752,  J.  Roche  owns  a  marble  slab  and  frame  valued  at 
£20;  in  1753,  a  white  oak  table  is  set  down  at  ^'io;  and 
in  1754,  we  find  a  small  walnut  flap  table,  £6,  and  small 
marble  side  table,  ^"6.  Lastly,  a  "  Manchineal  table"  is 
appraised  at  ^8  in  1  74 1 . 

Turning  now  to  the  beds,  we  find  many  varieties.  The 
trundle-bed  and  the  "sea-bed"  gradually  disappear.  The 
"standing  bedstead"  with  sacking  bottom  was  the  com- 

1  \  3 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


monest.  It  was  made  of  oak,  and,  later,  of  mahogany  or 
walnut,  and  was  frequently  carved.  In  1727,  Captain  A. 
Mailer  had  a  folding  bedstead  and  furniture,  ^30  ;  and  in 
1733  Jonathan  Main,  a  "press  bedstead,"  £2.  Others 
recorded  are:  a  bedstead  with  poles,   £$   (R.  Vaughan, 

1736)  ;  three  screw   bedsteads,  £j-io-o  (T.  Batcheller, 

1737)  ;  a  standing  calico  bed  and  furniture,  £%oy  two 
others  at  £jo  each,  and  a  red  and  a  blue  Paragon  bed  at 
^35  each  (Hon.  A.  Middleton,  1738);  afield  bedstead  and 
coarse  pavilion  (Thomas  Oliver,  1744)  ;  two  yellow  "Saun- 
ders bedsteads,"  £8,  two  pine  bedsteads,  £2,  and  four  feather 
beds  and  bolsters,  /'180  (Isaac  Cordes,  1745)  ;  a  mahogany 
settee  bed,  £50  (John  Lawrens,  1745)  ;  a  pine  bedstead  and 
cord,  ^1-10-0,  a  "  Sarsafaix"  bedstead  and  cord,  £\-j-6 
(John  Witter,  1746);  a  painted  bedstead,  £\  (G.  Haskett, 
1747);  a  four-post  oak  bedstead  and  bedding,  £25,  and  a 
mahogany  bedstead  and  bedding,  ^50  (Joseph  Wragg, 
1 75 1 ) ;  a  four-post  oak  bedstead,  ^'10  (1753),  a  cypress 
bedstead,  £2  (1754). 

It  was,  however,  the  bedding  and  adornment  in  which 
the  chief  value  still  lay.  Thus,  while  the  above-mentioned 
four-post  oak  bedstead  and  bedding  were  valued  at  £25  in 
1 75 1,  we  find  another  without  the  bedding  set  down  at 
£\o  two  years  later;  and  in  1746  S.  C.  Gaultier's  mahog- 
any bedstead  (probably  a  low  one),  with  sacking  bottom, 
was  worth  only  £§. 

A  tine  specimen  of  the  carved  mahogany  four-post  bed- 
stead is  shown  facing  page  142.  The  posts  are  beautifully 
turned  and  carved  in  foliage  designs  and  terminate  at  the 
top  in  pineapples.  It  is  unusually  large,  measuring  eight 
feet  four  inches  from  cornice  to  floor,  six  feet  eight  inches 
long  and  five  feet  one  inch  wide.     The  posts  are  fourteen 

141 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


inches  in  circumference,  and  the  feet  have  deep  brass 
sockets  and  bands  into  which  the  castors  fit.  It  is  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  James  H.  Harris,  of  Richmond,  and  has 
been  owned  by  the  family  for  more  than  a  century. 

Some  of  the  bed  furnishings  were  very  costly,  and  the 
materials  and  styles  varied  greatly.  Mosquito  netting,  made 
into  a  canopy  and  still  known  as  a  pavilion  in  South  Caro- 
lina, was  common  all  through  the  South.  It  was  spread 
over  the  hammock  as  well  as  the  bed;  it  was  sometimes 
coloured  and  seems  to  have  been  quite  expensive.  Some 
of  the  prices  are  as  follows:  a  pavilion,  ^'8  (1722);  two 
"gauzed"  pavilions,  £20  (1725);  a  pavilion  and  ham- 
mock, £5  (1725);  a  thread  pavilion  and  hammock,  £5, 
and  two  gauze  pavilions  and  hammocks,  £4.  (1745);  two 
gauze  pavilions  and  hammocks,  ^30  (1745);  and  abed 
pavilion,  ^'10  (1746). 

I  Curtains  and  quilts  are  even  more  important,  and  are 
often  clearly  described.  Thus,  we  have  a  set  of  green  serge 
curtains,  £j  (1723);  bedstead  with  blue  curtains,  £20- 
5-0  (1723);  set  of  green  serge  curtains,  £j  (1723);  suit 
of  curtains  and  quilt,  £30  (1724);  and  a  suit  of  calico 
curtains,  £y  (1725).  John  Jordon,  of  Maryland,  owned 
in  1729  a  scarlet  camblet  bed  frame,  six  window  curtains 
and  three  valance  and  one  old  red  china  bedding  and  bed. 
S.  Screven,  of  South  Carolina,  had  in  1732  five  bedsteads 
and  beds,  eleven  sheets,  ninety-nine  blankets,  fourteen  pil- 
lows, four  quilts,  one  cover,  and  one  set  of  curtains,  amount- 
ing to  /163. 

John  Washington,  of  Westmoreland  County,  Virginia, 
left  to  his  daughters  "the  white  quilt  and  the  white  cur- 
tains and  vallians";  Mary  Washington  left  to  her  son, 
General  George  Washington,  her  best  bed,  bedstead  of  Vir- 

142 


BEDSTEAD 

Richly  carved  high  posts,  and  bars  for  light  curtains  or  mosquito  nets.     This  piece  shoivs  very  elaborate 
earning  of  a  kind  which,  originating  near  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  continued 

to  be  used  as  late  as  i8jo. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ginia  cloth  curtains,  and  a  quilted  blue  and  white  quilt; 
and  to  her  granddaughter,  Polly  Carter,  a  bedstead  draped 
with  purple  curtains  and  covered  with  a  white  counterpane. 

Anne  Le  Brasseur  (1742)  possessed  a  bedstead  with 
sacking  bottom,  bed,  bolster,  two  pillows,  two  rails  and  a 
head-board,  a  moulded  wooden  tester,  and  a  blue  and  white 
cotton  counterpane,  all  worth  ^35.  Among  other  bed- 
furnishings  we  rind:  a  cotton  counterpane,  ^"8;  a  suit  of 
calico  curtains,  bedstead,  pavilion,  mattress,  feather-bed, 
bolster  and  pillow,  and  window  curtains,  ^"100  (Thomas 
Oliver,  Esq.,  1744);  a  lined  set  of  curtains,  ^10;  a  white 
pavilion,  ^6  ( 1 744).  *  James  Matthews  (1745)  possessed 
in  his  "front  room  upstairs"  a  blue  chintz  bed  and  furni- 
ture with  pavilion  and  window  curtains,  appraised  at  the 
astonishing  sum  of  £200.  The  bed  and  furniture  in  the 
"back  room  upstairs"  was  valued  at  ^,150;  and  in  the 
"  front  room  garret,"  among  other  things,  was  a  bed  and 
furniture,  £70;  two  pavilions,  a  suit  of  chintz  curtains  and 
chintz  counterpane,  ^'120;  and  bed-linen  to  the  value  of 
^325.  It  is  evident  that  these  values  are  not  very  excep- 
tional, for  the  same  year  we  rind  another  householder  in 
possession  of  "  2  sutes  curtains,  ^'100."  The  latter  must 
have  been  of  chintz,  which  was  plainly  the  fashionable 
material  and  probably  the  "latest  thing  out."  It  seems  to 
have  been  imitated,  and  its  relative  cost  to  calico  appears 
from  the  following:  "one  set  green  curtains,  one  set 

Indian  calico  ditto,  ^7;  one  ditto,  ^'10;  one  ditto  mock 
chints,  ^"40." 

The  curtains  at  the  windows  frequently  matched  those 
of  the  bed,  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  this  harmony  was 
observed.  Among  other  kinds  we  find,  in  addition  to  those 
already  given,  a  set  of  curtains,  lined,  ^10  (1744);  2  suits 

143 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  curtains,  ^'ioo  (1745);  3  red  window  curtains,  15 
shillings  (1747);  1  set  calico  curtains,  £20  (1747);  3 
pairs  window  curtains,  ^3  (1751).  , 

Feather  or  flock  beds  on  corded  sacking-bottoms  were 
the  commonest  arrangement,  but  hair  mattresses  were  in 
use  in  wealthy  families,  in  the  early  part  of  the  century. 
Roland  Vaughan  owned  two,  valued  at  ^10,  in  1736. 

Screens  were  by  no  means  uncommon,  but  the  hand- 
screen  is  not  often  found.  Sometimes  they  were  small 
round  or  square  frames  sliding  on  a  post.  These  frames 
were  sometimes  painted  wood  and  sometimes  they  were 
covered  with  embroidered  materials.  The  values  naturally 
varied  greatly.  In  1725,  a  pair  was  appraised  at  £1,  and 
in  1727  one  screen  at  ^30.  T.  Fisher  owns  one  at  £6 
(1736),  and  S.  Eveleigh  two  at  £15  (1738).  A  painted 
screen,  half  worn,  is  valued  at  ^6,  in  1  74 1 ,  and  two  leather 
ones  at  ^,15,  in  1744.  In  the  latter  year  a  screen  (kind 
not  stated)  is  worth  seven  guineas.  In  1745,  Sarah  Trott 
owns  a  leather  one  valued  at  jCi 0-2-0,  and  in  1745,  one 
belonging  to  E.  Heskett  is  put  down  at  £$.  T.  Wragg 
(1751)  possessed  two  particularly  choice  specimens,  one 
gilt  (^30)  and  one  stamped  leather  (^20).  In  the  latter 
year  we  also  find  a  painted  screen  (^4-10-0);  and  ten 
guineas  is  the  value  of  a  four-leaved  screen  in  1754. 

Till  nearly  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
carpets  mentioned  were  still  only  coverings  for  tables,  bu- 
reaux, etc.  The  distinction  is  clearly  drawn  in  the  inventory 
of  Noah  Serre  (1746),  in  which  we  find  two  painted 
table  carpets,  £2,  and  one  painted  floor  cloth,  ^"10.  Other 
carpets  are  Scotch,  Indian,  hair,  and  Turkey. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  rooms  were  bright  and  cheerful 
with  a  variety  of  colour,  and  the  somewhat  sombre  effect  of 

'  11 


DRESSING-TABLE 

This  mahogany  dressing-table  is  owned  by  Mrs.  Andre-xv  Simonds,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


mahogany  did  not  dominate  until  comparatively  late  in  the 
century.  ^Cushions  were  largely  used  to  make  the  chairs 
comfortable:  they  often  had  covers  embroidered  by  the 
female  members  of  the  family.  Rebecca  Axtell  (1727) 
had  four  chair  covers  worked,  ^1.  T.  Gadsden  (1741) 
owned  eighteen  green 
damask  cushions,  one 
cover  for  the  easy 
chair  and  for  the 
cushions  for  ditto,  one 
cover  for  the  settee 
with  two  bolsters, 
£\2;  and  two  cush- 
ions covered  with  blue. 
Anne  Le  Brasseur 
(1742)     owned  an 

"  easy  chair  and  cush-      mahogany  chair  and  dressing  case 

IOII       COVered        With       The  dressing  case  was  imported  by  Randolph  of  Curies  in 

1 72 1.     The  brass  handles  are  original. 

crewel  wrought  and  a 

calico  cushion  case,"  ^30  ;  and  two  crewel  wrought  chair 
bottoms,  £2.  J.  Wragg  (1751)  had  an  easy  chair  and 
cushion  valued  at  ^15,  and  in  1754  we  find  an  easy  chair 
and  three  covers  for  same,  ^"20. 

The  curtains  also  were  frequently  adorned  with  needle- 
work. An  instance  of  this  occurs  in  the  will  of  Anthony 
Walke,  of  Fairfield,  Princess  Anne  County,  Virginia:  "To  my 
son  Anthony  my  suit  of  embroidered  curtains,  in  membrance 
of  his  mother  (Jane  Randolph)  who  took  great  pains  in 
working  them^— my  father's  walnut  secretaire  and  clock,"  etc. 

Corner  cupboards  came  into  fashion  about  1  7 1  o,  after 
which  date  they  constantly  occur.  Presses,  cupboards  and 
chests  of  drawers  were  made  principally  of  cedar,  pine  and 

1 4  5 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


cypress  during  this  period.  They  were  not  cheap ;  an 
article  of  furniture  containing  drawers  (especially  with  lock 
and  key)  was  always  highly  esteemed. 

An  example  of  an  early  mahogany  chest  of  drawers  is 
given  on  page  145.  It  is  very  plain  in  form  and  diminutive 
in  size.  The  drawers  have  the  original  brass  handles  and 
key-plates,  and  the  colour  of  the  mahogany  is  unusually  rich. 
It  would  probably  be  hard  to  rind  an  earlier  example  in  the 
country,  for  it  was  imported  by  Thomas  Randolph,  of 
Curies,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  his  descendant,  Mrs.  J. 
Adair  Pleasants,  Richmond,  Va.  The  dressing-glass  above 
it  is  also  of  mahogany  and  about  the  same  age.  The  brass 
candlestick  is  contemporary.  The  chair  standing  to  the 
left  is  of  mahogany,  lighter  in  colour.  The  plain  square 
back,  with  pierced  jar-shaped  splat,  plain  squared  legs  and 
straining  rails  show  that  this  also  dates  from  early  in  the 
century,  probably  not  later  than  1730.  The  castors,  in  all 
probability,  are  later  additions. 

The  plate  facing  page  116  shows  an  old  mahogany 
chest  of  drawers,  with  swell  front  and  brass  handles,  owned 
by  Miss  Susan  Pringle,  Charleston,  S.  C.  Upon  it  stands 
a  japanned  dressing-glass,  of  which  we  find  so  many 
instances  in  the  inventories.  The  present  example  was  said 
to  have  been  one  of  the  first  imported  into  Charleston  from 
the  East.  A  similar  dressing-glass  appears  in  Washington's 
bed-room  in  Mount  Vernon.     (See  Frontispiece.) 

Clocks  existed  in  considerable  numbers:  the  high  clock- 
case  was  often  carved  and  moulded,  and  made  a  handsome 
piece  of  furniture  in  the  hall  or  dining-room.  The  small 
clock  was  used,  however,  and  its  price  could  be  equally 
high.  In  1 75  1,  the  Hon.  J.  Cullom  owned  a  table  clock 
valued  at  ^'100,  while  Dr.  J.  Gaultier's  small  alarm  clock 

146 


TWO  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY  CLOCKS 

The  clock  to  the  left  ivas  made  in  Charleston,  and  tells  tides  as  ive/l  as  phases  of  the  moon  ;  it  is  oivned  by 
Mrs.  Andrew  Simonds,  Charleston,  S.  C.     The  clock  on  the  right  belonged  to  Franklin. 

See  pages  14J  and  106. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


(1746)  was  only  worth  ^'2-10-0.  The  cases  were  often 
worth  more  than  the  works,  and  we  have  data  for  forming 
an  idea  of  the  relative  values.  In  1727,  John  Bateson, 
clockmaker,  died,  possessed  of  a  silver  repeating  watch, 
^90,  and  an  eight-day  clock  movement,  ^25-10-0.  In 
the  same  year  two  clocks  are  appraised  at  ^15  and 
^40.  In  1733,  one  clock-case  is  worth  ^50,  and  another 
clock  and  case,    £25-     Other   values  are  /'40  and  ^20 

(I734);  £s°  (l73$)->  and^35  (I740-  T.  Lloyd  owned 
a  black  japanned  case  clock,  ^35,  in  1742  ;  and  Dr.  J.  Gaul- 
tier,  an  eight-day  ditto,  £50,  in  1745.  Captain  H.  Hext 
and  James  Matthews  each  owned  a  clock  valued  at  £80  in 
the  latter  year.  G.  Haskett  had  one  worth  (1747), 
and  J.  Roche  another  at  £7$  (1752).  Two  years  later, 
two  japanned  eight-day  clocks  were  appraised  at  ^40  and 

£s°- 

An  accompanying  example  is  a  fine  San  Domingo 
mahogany  clock  with  handsome  brass  mountings,  owned 
by  Mrs.  Andrew  Simonds,  Charleston,  S.  C.  It  tells  the 
tides  and  the  phases  of  the  moon,  as  well  as  the  month, 
day  and  hour.  Let  into  the  wood  and  under  a  glass  frame 
is  the  date  ''1717."  A  brass  plate  on  the  face  bears  the 
words  "  William  Lee,  Charles  Town."  The  spelling  is 
that  which  was  in  use  in  the  city  during  the  first  century 
of  the  settlement,  and  is  in  itself  evidence  that  the  clock 
is  over  125  years  old.  It  was  used  as  a  packing-case 
for  Revolutionary  bayonets,  which  were,  however,  never 
shipped  to  their  destination. 

Pictures  and  maps  are  found  in  considerable  quantities 
in  the  houses  during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
but  unfortunately  the  inventories  do  not  often  state  the  sub- 
jects.    The  prices,  however,  are  very  moderate  as  a  rule; 

147 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  fact,  in  many  cases,  we  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  frames  and  glasses  were  valued  as  highly  as  the  pictures 
themselves.  The  maps  are  also  set  down  without  descrip- 
tion in  most  cases.  The  hall  always  had  a  generous  supply 
of  what  pictures  the  family  possessed.  Sometimes  a  distinc- 
tion was  drawn  be- 
tween "pictures"  and 
paintings,"  which 
would  argue  the 
former  to  be  under- 
stood as  engravings. 
Frequently  the  num- 
ber is  not  mentioned, 
the  item  simply  read- 
ing "old  pictures,"  or 
"a  parcel  of  old  pic- 
tures." 

It  is  customary  to 
think  of  old  and  "  Co- 
lonial "  furniture  as  consisting  entirely  of  mahogany.  This 
idea  is  erroneous,  as  we  have  already  seen.  Mahogany  fur- 
niture was  practically  non-existent  in  the  South  before  1720, 
and  then,  even  among  the  wealthiest,  its  spread  was  very 
slow.  Twenty-five  years  later  there  were  only  a  few  scattered 
pieces  in  most  of  the  houses,  and  sometimes  there  was  none 
at  all.  In  1746  no  mahogany  is  mentioned  in  the  inventory 
of  Daniel  Townsend,  whose  estate  is  appraised  at  more  than 
^'20,000:  his  furniture  consisted  of  walnut,  cedar,  pine, 
and  maple.  Richard  Wright,  1747,  who  was  also  exceed- 
ingly rich,  had  a  good  deal  of  mahogany,  but  it  was  liberally 
sprinkled  with  "leather-bottomed,  bass-bottomed,  rush-bot- 
tomed" and  cane  chairs.    People  in  moderate  circumstances 

148 


TWO  CHAIRS 


These  chairs  are  delicately  carved  in  mahogany,  and  are  very 
valuable  pieces;  date  about  1750.    See  page  138. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


occasionally  possessed  a  mahogany  table,  but  their  furniture 
was  almost  entirely  oak,  pine,  bay,  cypress,  cedar,  and  walnut. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  century  the  rage  for  mahog- 
any was  fast  increasing.  The  Carolina  planters  were  ex- 
ceedingly prosperous  and  their  houses  showed  a  degree  of 
luxury  unsurpassed  by  the  London  merchants.  In  1 7  5 1 , 
Mr.  John  Morton,  whose  estate  was  valued  at  ^21,355, 
possessed  rich  furniture  and  quantities  of  it.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  six  common  black  chairs  and  an  "iron  japanned 
table  and  waiter,"  it  seems  to  have  been  all  mahogany. 
Among  other  things  we  find  a  harpsichord  (^150);  two 
sets  of  prints  of  Hogarth's  Rake's  Progress  and  Harlot's 
Progress  (^"30) ;  another  harpsichord  and  a  spyglass,  together 
valued  at  ^30  ;  a  mahogany  bookcase  (£  1  00) ;  1  2  plain  ma- 
hogany chairs  (^"40);  12  brocade  bottomed  chairs  (^84); 
a  mahogany  cradle  and  two  cases  of  bottles  (^15);  and  a 
yellow  silk  bed-quilt,  which  must  have  been  very  choice, 
since  it  was  valued  at  ^"10. 

The  growing  taste  for  furniture  of  the  Chippendale 
school  is  clearly  seen  towards  1  740.  The  prices  of  com- 
paratively minor  articles  show  that  the  new  style  has 
arrived.  R.  Vaughan,  1736,  has  a  large  mahogany  chest 
of  drawers,  £25  ;  a  mahogany  bookcase,  with  sixteen 
square  glasses,  £20;  a  mahogany  paper  case,  £16;  a  small 
mahogany  writing  desk,  /jo;  a  mahogany  tea-box,  ^"3-10-0. 
T.  Gadsden,  1741,  has  a  glass  bookcase  escritoire,  £4.0. 

In  Maryland,  also,  about  this  time,  mahogany  was  in 
vogue,  and  the  best  of  it  came  by  way  of  England. 

Other  evidence  of  the  general  practice  of  importing 
the  finer  furniture  from  England,  until  the  Revolution,  is 
afforded  by  the  Will  of  Anthony  Walke,  of  Fairfield, 
Princess  Anne  County,  Virginia: 

1 10 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"  I  give  to  my  wife, 

Mary  Walke    the 

sum  of  fifty  pounds  ster- 
ling to  buy  furniture  for 
her  best  room,  in  case  I 
should  not  send  for  it 
before  my  death  ." 

,  Facing  page  1 40 
is  a  mahogany  bed  and 
chair  from  Boiling 
Hall,  Virginia.  The 
carving  of  the  posts  is 
not  very  elaborate,  but 
is  quite  characteristic 
of  so  many  beds  of  the 
period.  The  little 
dressing  glass  and 
drawer  is  also  mahog- 
any and  typical  of  so 
many  we  have  had 
mentioned  in  the  in- 
ventories. The  secre- 
tary is  mahogany,  in- 
laid, and  with  brass 
mounts.-  The  two 
sham  top  drawers  are, 
of  course,  one  piece, 
which  lets  down  in 
front  to  form  a  writing 
desk,  with  the  usual 
arrangements  inside. 
It  belonged  to  Chief-Justice  Marshall,  of  Virginia,  and  is 
now  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Boiling,  Richmond,  Va. 

150 


BOOKCASE 


Later  years  of  eighteenth  century.  This  special  piece  is  ex 
traordinarily  large. 


SOME  OLD  NEW  ORLEANS  PIECES 

Lady '  s  working-table,  candlesticks,  liquor  set  and  Russian  Samo-var.     The  table  is  in  Louis  XIV  style 
and  has  drawers  ivith  secret  bottoms.     The  liquor  set  is  very  rare. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


A  Chippendale  bookcase  is  shown  on  page  150.  It  is 
of  colossal  dimensions.  This  is  the  property  of  Mr.  George 
S.  Holmes,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  is  an  old  family  piece, 
as  two  or  three  of  the  original  drawers  were  used  by  the 
British  officers  for  horse-troughs.  Their  places  have  been 
supplied  by  "new  ones"  made  directly  after  the  Revolution. 
The  wavy  cornice  is  surmounted  by  the  brass  ornament. 

Opposite  page  92  is  a  room  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Andrew 
Simonds,  Charleston,  S.  C.  It  is  furnished  in  the  old 
style,  with  brilliantly  flowered  chintz  hangings,  chair 
covers,  and  wall-paper  to  match.  The  bed  is  an  old 
piece  of  Charleston  mahogany,  beautifully  carved,  each  post 
being  a  succession  of  pine-apples  and  foliage.  The  tester  is 
also  carved.  It  belonged  originally  "  to  the  fairest  woman 
in  all  the  Carolinas,"  over  a  century  ago.  The  rest  of  the 
furniture  is  of  somewhat  later  date.  The  dressing-table,  a 
handsome  specimen,  inlaid  with  brass,  is  shown  facing 
page  144.  The  chair  at  the  foot  of  the  bed  is  of  the 
Hepplewhite  School,  and  is  of  an  unusual  size  and  very 
rich  carving.  The  chair  in  front  of  the  table  is  exceed- 
ingly late. 

Louisiana,  though  partly  colonized  during  the  Seven- 
teenth Century,  contained  no  flourishing  towns  nor  thriv- 
ing plantations,  and  therefore  research  into  its  furniture 
yields  little  result.  New  Orleans,  at  first  a  penal  settle- 
ment, knew  nothing  of  wealth  or  fashion  until  late  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century.  What  good  furniture  the  higher 
officials  possessed  was  naturally  of  French  make,  and 
pieces  of  the  styles  of  Louis  Quatorze,  Quinze,  and  Seize 
undoubtedly  found  their  way  across  the  water.  The  fine 
examples  of  those  periods  still  to  be  found  in  the  city,  how- 
ever, were  brought  in  or  imported,  at  a  considerably  later  date. 

151 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


While  the  carved  oak  was  the  furniture  fashionable 
in  England  and  her  colonies,  the  furniture  of  France  was 
particularly  luxurious.  The  general  taste  for  magnificence 
in  the  reign  of  Louis  Quatorze  produced  the  ornate 
meiibles  de  luxe,  of  which  Boule  and  Riesener  were  the 
most  famous  designers.  Cabinets,  encoignures,  fauteuils, 
tables,  commodes,  clocks,  armoz'res,  etc.,  were  veneered  with 
tortoise-shell  and  inlaid  with  brass,  and  richly  ornamented 
with  gilt  bronze  mounts.  The  styles  of  Louis  Quatorze, 
Louis  Quinze,  and  Louis  Seize  will  be  treated  in  a  later 
chapter,  but  we  give  an  example  (see  plate  facing  page 
150)  of  Boule's  work.  The  piece  is  a  lady's  work-table 
of  the  Louis  Fourteenth  period.  It  is  of  ebony,  with  the 
kind  of  veneering  just  mentioned.  It  has  the  usual  bag, 
or  well,  for  small  receptacles,  and  curious  drawers  with 
secret  bottoms.  It  was  a  present  from  Louis  Philippe 
to  the  Marquis  de  Marigny.  Upon  the  table  is  a  liquor 
set  with  bottle  and  glasses  of  crystal  inlaid  with  gold. 
The  case  is  ebony  inlaid  with  nacre  and  bronze.  This 
was  a  gift  from  Gov.  Villere  to  the  Marquis  de  Marigny. 
The  silver  candlesticks  also  belonged  to  Marigny,  a  present 
from  Toledano.  Beneath  the  table  stands  a  Russian  samo- 
var of  bronze. 


THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR  HHH^f 
FOREFATHERS 


CARVED  OAK  CUPBOARD 

Owned  by  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wethersjield,  Conn.     See  page  i6j. 


THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR 

FOREFATHERS 


By  ESTHER  SINGLETON 

WITH  CRITICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  PLATES 
By  RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAX  PAGE  AMD  COMPANY 
i      9      o  i 


COPYRIGHT,  MAY,   I90I,  BY 
DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  CO. 


CONTENTS 


The  Early  Settlers  of  New  England  1c)S~157 

First  houses,   156;    Men  of  wealth,  156;    home  of  George 
Phillips,  1  56-7. 

Early  Houses  in  Plymouth  and  Salem  .  158—160 

Chests,  Trunks,  The  Atlantic  Passage  161  — 162 
Possessions  of  those  who  Perished  in  the  Great 

Ship  .        .        .        .        .        .  .        .  163 

Home  of  Governor  Goodyear     .        .  .  .164 

Governor  Eaton's  Furniture      .        .  .  166—168 

Notable  and  Aristocratic  Settlers  .  169-171 

Indications  of  comfort  and  elegance,  171. 

Joiners  and  Cabinet-makers,  Upholsterers  and 

Carvers     ......  173—179 

Kinds  of  woods  used,  173  ;  value  of  furniture,  173;  skilled 
labour,  174;  wages,  174  ;  shop  goods  of  certain  joiners,  l  7  7 — 
8 ;  importations  of  tropical  woods,  179;  New  England  fur- 
niture sent  to  the  South,  179. 

Chairs,  Stools  and  Other  Seats         .        .  180—196 

Prices  of  chairs,  180  ;  the  child's  chair,  181—2  ;  varieties  of 
chairs,  182-9  >  materials  and  colours  used  for  upholstering 
chairs,  188-190  ;  buffet-stools,  190—1  ;  changes  in  the  form 
of  the  chair,  194;  the  passing  of  the  oak  period  and  the 
growing  Dutch  influence,  194-5. 

Extensive  Use  of  Cushions  ....  196—198 

Coverings  and  cases,  196;    number  and  value  of  cushions, 
197-8  ;  carpets  and  cupboard  cloths,  197-8. 

Tables         .......  198-202 

Trestles,  boards  and  forms,  198—9;  drawing  and  folding 
tables,  199;  round,  square  and  oval  tables,  200-2;  woods 
used  for  tables,  201. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Beds  and  Their  Furnishings       .        .        .  202—205 

Four-post  and  trundle-beds,  202—3  '  materials  and  colours  of 
curtains,  204—5  '■>  quilts,  blankets  and  coverlids,  204—5. 

The  Cupboard     ......  205-211 

Plate  and  pewter  displayed,  205-6  ;  livery  and  court  cup- 
boards, 207-8  ;  cupboard  cloths,  carpets  and  cushions,  209  ; 
changes  and  developments  of  form,  20g—  1  1. 

The  Press  and  the  Frame  .        .        .    211— 213 

Chests  and  Trunks      .....  213-220 

Varieties  of  the  chest,  214;  definitions,  215;  evolution  of 
the  chest  with  drawers,  215-6  ;  chest  of  drawers,  218;  de- 
velopments, 220. 

Desks  and  Bookcases  .....  220—222 

Scretore  and  furnishings,  220— I;  books  and  study,  221. 

Metal  Mountings,  Locks,  Keys  and  Hinges  .  222 
The  Cabinet       ......  222-224 

Varieties  of  the  cabinet,  223  ;    china,   porcelain    and  East 
India  ornaments,  223—4. 

Musical  Instruments  and  Clocks  and  Watches 


224-225 

Virginals  and   "  gitternes,"  224;  clocks  with  and  without 
cases,  224;  watches,  sun-dials  and  hour-glasses,  225. 


Looking-Glasses  and  Fireplaces 

•  225- 

-2 

2  6 

Artillery-Room  of  Major-General 

GlBBONS 

2 

26 

Wealthy  New  Englanders 

2 

27 

Home  of  William  Wardell 

.  229- 

_  2 

30 

Home  of  Sir  William  Phipps 

•  23°~ 

2 

31 

Dower  Furniture 

•   23 1  - 

-2 

3  2 

List  of  Illustrations 

WITH  CRITICAL  NOTES  ON  MANY  OF 
THE      PLATES      BY      RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ALL   THE   NOTES   FURNISHED   BY    MR.  STURGIS 
ARE   FOLLOWED    BY    HIS  INITIALS,    R.  S. 


Frontispiece:  Carved  Oak  Cupboard 


FACING  I53 


Kitchen  in  the  Hancock-Clarke  House   facing  155 

In  which  a  number  of  miscellaneous  articles,  authentic  relics  of  old  times  in  America, 
have  been  brought  together.  On  the  left  the  object  on  the  lowest  shelf  is  a  foot  stove 
such  as  was  used  in  church,  and  not  only  there.  The  andirons  are  of  no  importance  as 
works  of  art  or  industry.  The  leather  portmanteau  on  an  upper  shelf  should  be  com- 
pared with  those  facing  page  224,  but  this  is  one  of  a  later  date  than  they  and  belongs  to 
the  time  when  the  stage  coach  was  available.  The  chair  is  of  the  most  interesting  type. 
The  leather  receptacle  hanging  on  the  wall  above  the  chair  is  a  trunk-mail  only  a  little 
larger  than  those  which  were  used  in  days  of  horseback  journeying.  On  the  wall  be- 
yond the  door  there  hang  first  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  of  leather.  Beneath  this  is  a  settle 
of  the  real  fireside  kind,  such  a  piece  of  furniture  as  was  used  in  the  country  houses  of 
England  from  very  early  times  ;  the  back  reaching  the  floor  so  as  to  shut  out  draughts. 
In  front  of  the  fireplace  are  three  "  tin  kitchens,"  or  "  Dutch  ovens,"  shaped  so  as  to 
gather  and  reflect  upon  the  roasting  joint  the  heat  of  the  open  fire.     R.  S. 


Carved  Oak  Cupboard       .        .        .       facing  158 

Such  as  we  should  call  to-day  a  cabinet,  or,  using  a  French  phrase,  bahut.  The  frontis- 
piece shows  the  same  piece  with  the  upper  door  shut.  There  is  no  reason  for  the  half- 
hexagonal  shape  of  the  upper  part  except  the  desire  to  preserve  the  decorative  effect  of 
the  two  corner  pillars  standing  free  ;  and  these  pieces  were  made  rather  for  their  stateli- 
ness  than  for  mere  utility.  Consult  a  similar  piece  in  Part  I,  plate  opposite  page  36. 
In  the  present  instance  the  sculpture  is  all  in  scrollwork,  much  more  easy  and  flowing 
than  that  common  to  Elizabethan  design  ;  it  is  probably  of  the  time  of  Charles  I,  and 
the  de  ails  studied  partly  from  Italian  models.  The  fact  that  the  sculpture  is  flat,  a 
mere  sinking  or  "abating"  of  the  background,  indicates  a  provincial  or  up-country 
piece  of  work  as  distinguished  from  that  of  a  centre  of  manufacture  and  fine  art.  Other 
pieces  in  the  present  chapter  have  the  same  peculiarity.  This  flatness  is  hardly  abandoned 
in  any  part,  and  the  solid  sculpture,  as  in  the  Ionic  capitals,  shows  an  unpracticed  hand. 
R.  S. 


Settle  with  Table  Top      .        .        .        .        .  159 

The  back  of  which  is  formed  by  a  table  top  that  can  be  dropped  into  a  horizontal  posi- 
tion. Exactly  such  a  piece  of  kitchen  furniture  can  be  bought  to-day,  cheaply  made,  and 
called  an  ironing  table.     R.  S. 

vii 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Oak  Table  .....       facing  i  60 

Which  was  originally  made  to  lift,  probably  attached  by  hinges  on  one  side  in  order  to 
save  room  in  the  fashion  shown  in  the  settle,  page  159.  The  unusually  large  bulbs  which 
form  part  of  the  design  of  the  legs  are  stained  black.  The  very  awkward  form  of  the 
straining  piece  is  to  be  noticed.  The  attempt  is  evident  to  keep  the  horizontal  bars  away 
from  the  ankles  of  those  who  may  sit  at  the  table.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  .        .        .        .        .        .  .161 

The  decoration  of  which  by  means  of  mouldings  worked  in  the  solid  wood  is  suggestive 
of  that  lingering  of  mediaeval  methods  of  design  which  exists,  more  visibly,  in  seventeenth- 
century  buildings  of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut.  There  is  no  affectation  of  classical 
design  about  this  piece  ;  it  is  put  together  simply  with  tenons  held  in  their  mortices  by 
pins.     R.  S. 

Carved  Oak  Chair  .        .        .       facing  164 

Of  which  the  form  is  simple  and  agreeable,  the  turned  legs  and  balusters  being  well  pro- 
portioned to  the  whole,  and  the  unusually  heavy  parts  very  effective  in  giving  the  appear- 
ance of  immovable  solidity.  The  piece  is  of  that  epoch  when  the  English  artisans  were 
trying  to  work  in  a  style  which  was  new  to  them,  and  which  involved  as  they  thought 
the  covering  of  every  part  with  ornament.  The  -mediaeval  leafage  had  to  be  abandoned, 
and  they  were  not  provided  with  adequate  material  to  replace  it;  for  the  peasant  sculptor 
has  used  the  Elizabethan  strap  ornament  only  for  the  top  rail,  the  rest  of  his  work  being 
poorly  designed  scroll  patterns  of  his  own  imagining.     R.  S. 

Two  Clocks         .....       facing  168 

Both  clocks  are  of  English  manufacture  and  are  good  typical  examples  of  the  period. 

Oak  Cupboard  with  Drawers     .        .        .  .169 

But  with  the  balusters  and  the  curious  half  balusters  which  are  applied  to  the  surface  for 
ornament  made  of  some  finer  grained  wood  and  stained  black.  The  relation  of  these 
curious  half  balusters  to  the  engaged  columns  so  much  sought  after  in  buildings  of  the 
time  would  be  curious  to  make  out;  for  in  either  case  it  suggests  the  making  of  flat  draw- 
ings rather  than  the  working  out  the  building  or  the  furniture  in  modelling  clay.  The 
idea  that,  because  a  whole  round  shaft  or  pillar  is  good,  therefore  a  split  one  is  good  also 
has  done  a  great  deal  of  harm  to  design.     R.  S. 

Oak  Cradle  and  Table      .....  176 

Two  simple  specimens  of  native  make.  The  cradle  was  made  in  1680.  There  is  upon 
it  a  slight  attempt  at  decoration.  The  table,  not  a  large  one,  is  somewhat  rougher,  al- 
though the  legs  are  turned.  The  drop  ornament  is  characteristic  of  much  furniture  of 
the  period  (seethe  chair  on  page  45").     E.  S. 

Chest  with  Drawers  .        .        .       facing  176 

Of  the  kind  which  was  called  also  Chest  on  drawers,  from  which  term  was  probably  de- 
rived the  more  modern  term,  Chest  of  drawers.  In  such  pieces  of  furniture  the  chest 
when  spoken  of  by  itself  was  often  called  "  well;"  of  course  because  you  dipped  into  it 
from  above.  The  design,  with  mouldings  and  half  balusters  applied  and  probably  made  of 
different  wood  from  the  piece,  is  chiefly  admirable  for  the  painted  ornament  in  red  and 
white.     An  Oriental  propriety  of  feeling  for  color  seems  to  have  controlled  it.     R.  S. 

Court  Cupboard         .        .        .        .        .  .178 

Called  in  modern  times  more  commonly  "cabinet."  In  this  case  the  effect  of  tree  pil- 
lars at  the  angles  (see  frontispiece  and  facing  page  158)  is  got  by  setting  back  the  whole 
upper  part  of  the  cupboard.  In  some  few  cases  the  quasi-architectural  effect  here  men- 
tioned is  got  without  the  twofold  inconvenience  of  having  the  doors  open  uoon  a  solid 

viii 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


table  top,  the  things  standing  upon  which  are  likely  to  be  brushed  away,  and  of  not  very 
easy  access  to  the  interior;  and  this  by  the  simple  device  of  opening  a  door  in  each  end  of 
the  upper  box,  the  front  of  which  remains  fixed.  In  this  and  in  the  cabinet  shown 
on  page  207  the  doors  open  in  the  front,  with  infinite  inconvenience;  for,  indeed,  the 
ordinary  box  cabinet  is  as  clumsy  as  it  is  monumental.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  with  Drawer    .        .        .       facing  178 

The  chest  proper  or  Well  being  of  unusual  dimensions.  This  is  an  admirable  piece  ot 
panelling,  the  traditional  character  of  the  adornment  by  cutting  and  moulding  being  well 
carried  out  in  the  decorative  sculpture.  The  square  panels  of  the  front  have  their  top 
and  bottom  edges,  viz.,  those  on  the  horizontal  rails,  chamfered  with  a  simple  splay  end- 
ing in  curved  stops,  but  the  upright  mullions  are  elaborately  moulded  on  both  edges,  a 
system  of  mouldings  which  is  not  repeated  on  the  sides  ot  the  corner  stiles — an  excellent 
distinction  and  full  of  charm  to  the  lover  of  solid  woodwork.      R.  S. 

Oak  Chai r  .        .        .        .        .        .        .  1 8 1 

In  which  the  carving  shows  a  very  slight  adva'nce  from  the  flat,  abated  work  facing  page 
158.  The  working  of  the  stiff  and  sharp  leaves  in  the  uprights  which  form  part  of 
the  panelled  back  is  very  interesting  as  showing  how  very  great  a  change  in  otherwise  flat 
work  is  to  be  obtained  by  a  few  well-imagined  groovings  and  sinkings.     R.  S. 

Table  and  Child's  Chair    .        .        .       facing  182 

The  table  leaves  are  supported  by  triangular  brackets  of  unusual  size.  This  belongs 
to  the  third  system  described  in  the  legend  of  table  on  page  201,  but  differs  from  nearly  all 
tables  with  swinging  brackets  in  having  the  brackets  so  long  as  to  frame  into  the  straining 
piece  below.     R.  S. 

Carved  Oak  Chair  and  Leather  Chair     .  -183 

The  cane  chair  is  of  the  Charles  II  period,  with  turned  supports  and  straining-rail.  The 
second  chair  was  originally  an  early  variety  of  the  low  leather  chair.     E.  S. 

Cane  Chair  and  Leather  Chair        .        .  .184 

The  cane  chair  is  a  transitional  form,  showing  Dutch  influences.  The  legs  have  a  dis- 
tinct suggestion  of  the  cabriole  shape.  The  low  leather  chair  has  been  re-upholstered 
and  is  of  a  somewhat  later  development  than  that  on  the  preceding  plate.  Engravings 
of  Abraham  Bosse,  1633,  show  precisely  this  kind  of  chair.     E.  S. 

Rush-bottomed  Chair         .        .        .       facing  184 

This  early  example  of  a  "wing-chair  "  is  interesting  as  showing  no  trace  of  carving  or 
other  characteristics  ot  the  Jacobean  period.  Its  comfort  was  increased  by  a  cushion. 
The  feet  show  the  growing  Dutch  influence  towards  the  end  of  the  century.     E.  S. 

Rush-Bottom  and  Cane  Chairs  .        .  .186 

The  chair  on  the  left  shows  the  back  with  a  more  developed  use  of  the  plain  central 
panel  as  an  ornament,  the  cane  webbing  on  either  side  now  having  been  discarded  and 
the  top  being  slightly  shaped  towards  the  form  of  the  bow  which  will  shortly  become  so 
popular.  A  little  further  development  of  the  feet  will  also  produce  the  hoof  feet.  The 
centre  chair  has  been  cut  down  into  a  rocking-chair  and  its  original  proportions  entirely 
changed.     The  chair  on  the  right  is  a  late  example  of  this  period.     E.  S. 

Rush-bottom,  Turned  and  Cane  Chairs      .  .187 

These  are  three  more  varieties  that  were  very  common  during  this  century.  The  centre 
chair  is  very  ungainly,  the  turned  supports  being  very  massive.  The  hollow  prepared  for 
the  cushion  is  plainly  visible.     E.  S. 

ix 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Cane  Chairs        .        .        .        .        .        .  .188 

These  are  chiefly  interesting  for  the  panels  of  cane  in  the  back  and  the  combination  of 
turned  and  carved  work  in  the  frames.     E.  S. 

Cane  Couch  and  Armchair         .        .        .  .190 

The  couch  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  period,  the  carving  being  uniform  with  the  prevail- 
ing style  of  chair.     The  cane  bottom  has  been  replaced  with  modern  material.     E.  S. 

Carved  Oak  Cane  Chairs  .        .        .  -193 

The  chair  on  the  left  is  an  exceedingly  handsome  specimen  and  is  more  elaborately 
carved  than  many  of  the  chairs  of  this  period. 

Settle  with  Folding  Candlestand    .       facing  194 

The  back  of  which  does  not  seem  ever  to  have  reached  the  floor.  The  panelled  back  and 
arms  are  high  enough  to  guard  the  person  against  any  draughts  above,  as  from  open  or 
leaking  windows.  The  adjustable  stand  for  a  candle  or  a  cup  of  tea  is  an  unusual  feature 
— one  that  may  well  have  been  added  at  a  later  time,  perhaps  at  the  behest  of  someone 
who  iiked  the  particular  corner  by  the  fire  which  the  settle  afforded  him  or  her,  and  who 
desired  such  a  convenience  at  the  elbow.     R.  S.  • 


Turkey-work  Settee  .        .        .       facing  198 

This  is  an  unusually  interesting  example,  as  the  original  Turkey-work'covering  has  been 
preserved  and  enables  us  to  see  the  material  that  gave  its  name  to  one  of  the  most 
popular  class  of  chairs  for  fully  halt  a  century.  The  variegated  colors  and  patterns  pro- 
duce a  very  bright  effect.  The  framework  is  of  turned  oak  and  the  settee  is  both  com- 
fortable and  attractive.     E.  S. 

Oval  Table        .......  200 

With  eight  legs,  very  similar  to  that  shown  on  page  201,  the  difference  being  that 
while  on  page  201  all  eight  legs  reach  the  floor,  at  least  in  appearance,  in  the  present 
example  only  six  stand  on  the  floor,  while  the  other  two  are  confessedly  revolving  up- 
rights into  which  the  swinging  structures  supporting  the  leaves  are  framed.  A  compari- 
son between  the  designs  of  these  two  tables  is  very  interesting.  There  are  some  reasons 
for  thinking  that  that  shown  on  page  200  is  much  earlier  than  that  shown  on  page 
201,  but  the  latter  design  with  the  baluster-shaped  legs  seems  more  graceful.  There 
is  no  common  piece  of  late  seventeenth-century  furniture  more  pleasantly  fantastic  or 
more  agreeable,  both  for  use  and  decorative  effect,  than  these  many-legged  tables  when  of 
pretty  form,  or,  as  is  less  common,  of  beautiful  wood.     R.  S. 

Oval  Table        .        .        .        .        .        .  .201 

Of  the  more  elaborate  sort,  in  which  the  support  for  the  leaves  when  open  is  afforded 
by  a  revolving  frame  with  two  legs. 

The  three-cornered  table  in  Part  II,  opposite  page  I  1 8,  gives  another  and  sometimes  a 
very  useful  form.     R.  S. 

Oak  Court  Cupboard         .....  207 

This  is  practically  identical  with  that  described  above  and  shown  on  page  178. 

Cupboard  Chest  of  Drawers      .        .       facing  210 

The  uppermost  large  drawer  oddly  designed  so  as  to  resemble  the  front  of  a  cupboard, 
while  the  drawers  are  enclosed  and  concealed  by  two  doors.  The  style  of  the  work  re- 
sembles that  of  the  two  chests,  pages  217  and  218. 

Two  pieces  shown  in  Part  II  may  be  compared  with  this,  but  they  are  secretaries 
rather  than  chests  of  drawers  in  the  ordinary  sense.  The  general  idea  of  having  the 
drawer  fronts  enclosed  and  concealed  by  doors,  though  good  as  a  preventative  against 

x 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

dust,  was  more  commonly  intended  as  an  additional  element  in  the  dignity  of  design  than 
as  a  utilitarian  device;  for  dust  was  not  much  to  be  feared  in  the  small  towns  of  the 
seventeenth  century.     R.  S. 

Large  and  Miniature  Chest  with  Drawer       .  212 

One  of  the  earliest  forms  of  the  piece  of  furniture  which  grew  into  the  modern  chest  of 
drawers,  called  in  French  Commode  (the  only  piece  of  furniture  out  of  many  which  has 
preserved  that  name),  and  in  the  United  States  generally  Bureau.  It  can  hardly  be  later 
than  the  year  1700,  though  the  handles  and  scutcheons  are  more  recent.  As  for  the 
little  box  set  upon  it,  this,  whether  considered  as  a  child's  toy  or  as  a  convenience  for 
toilet  articles,  may  be  of  any  date  from  1 700  to  1800,  the  type  prevailing  longer  in  such 
small  objects.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  with  Drawer   .        .        .        .        .  213 

Not  unlike  that  illustrated  on  page  212  except  that  the  somewhat  elaborate  panelling, 
with  mouldings  planted  on,  implies  an  origin  in  a  city  workman's  shop.  It  is  possible, 
however,  that  the  piece  has  been  altered,  as  the  end,  with  a  very  elaborate  raised  panel 
apparently  boxed  out,  is  certainly  not  of  the  same  design  as  the  front.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  with  Drawers  .        .        .       facing  214 

And  the  usual  "well"  still  retaining  its  full  depth,  so  that,  with  the  rim  so  high,  it 
must  have  been  inconvenient  to  deal  with  the  objects  laid  upon  its  bottom.  The  orna- 
mentation by  applied  black-stained  half  balusters  and  half  ellipsoids  is  of  one  epoch,  the 
carving  of  the  central  panel  and  probably  of  the  side  panels  of  another.  There  is  some- 
thing extremely  attractive  in  the  sun-flowers  or  dahlias  sunk  into  the  wood  and  only 
slightly  relieved  from  the  sinking,  and  it  would  be  pleasant  to  know  when  and  by  whom 
that  spirited  piece  of  carving  was  executed.     R.  S. 

Oak  Desk    ......       facing  216 

In  its  present  form  apparently  a  reading  desk  but  chiefly  attractive  on  account  of  the  very 
unusual  carving  of  the  front.  The  date,  1684  and  the  initials  W.  H.  are  not  to  be 
overlooked.  The  way  in  which  these  and  the  scroll  ornaments  are  cut  out  and  the 
whole  surface  around  them  abated  and  punched  with  a  rude  point,  probably  a  large  nail, 
the  end  of  which  had  been  filed — speaks  of  the  up-country  carpenter  who  had  orders 
to  make  something  a  little  unusual.     R.  S. 

Carved  Oak  Chest     ....       facing  216 

Probably  not  later  than  1640,  and  carved  with  extraordinary  skill,  taste  and  ability. 
Such  comment  must  needs  be  relative;  the  work  lacks  in  grace  if  compared  with  Parisian 
work  of  the  period,  or  with  that  of  the  great  central  district  of  France,  Touraine  and 
Berri  and  as  far  east  as  Burgundy;  but  it  has  close  relations  to  the  work  of  the  seventeenth 
century  in  the  south  of  France,  and  is  singularly  bold  and  masterly  with  a  willingness  on 
the  part  of  the  workman  to  sink  deep  into  the  hard  wood,  producing  a  kind  of  counter- 
sunk relief  or  cavo-relievo  which  is  unusual  in  such  work.     R.  S. 

Oak  Case  of  Drawers         .        .        .        .        .  217 

One  of  the  most  unusual  character.  The  purpose  of  the  maker  in  providing  ten  drawers, 
no  one  of  which  is  of  length  sufficient  to  lay  a  gown  or  a  cloak  in  without  much  fold- 
ing, is  a  puzzle;  but  one  who  had  other  chests  of  drawers  would  find  this  a  valuable  piece. 
The  decoration  is  of  that  vexatious  sort  which  is  limited  to  the  planting  on  of  turned 
pilasters  and  worked  mouldings,  nor  can  anything  be  said  in  praise  of  the  piece  except  for 
the  general  character  of  its  proportions.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  of  Drawers       .        .        .        .  .218 

Quite  small  compared  with  that  shown  on  page  217.     R.  S. 

xi 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Chest,  or  "Nest,"  of  Drawers  .        .        .  .219 

And  a  very  deep  well.  Such  pieces  as  this,  made  perhaps  of  apple  wood,  perhaps  of 
maple,  were  common  in  New  England  towns  and  were  usually  the  work  of  the  local  car- 
penter. It  is  nearly  always  impossible  to  date  them,  as  the  simple  mouldings  of  the 
drawers,  the  fronts  of  which  project  beyond  the  frame,  are  traditionally  copied  by  genera- 
tion after  generation  of  workmen,  and  there  is  no  other  ornament  whatever.       R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  of  Drawers       .        .        .        .  .221 

With  the  unusual  added  convenience  of  a  hinged  and  dropping  leaf  at  each  end  with  an 
adjustable  bracket  to  support  it.  The  character  of  the  design  is  not  different  from  that 
of  several  pieces  illustrated  in  this  chapter.     R.  S. 

Kitchen  in  Whipple  House         .        .       facing  222 

Which  should  be  compared  with  that  in  Plate  I.  The  room  itself  is  of  vastly  greater  in- 
terest on  account  of  the  unaltered  and  unceiled  floor  overhead,  with  its  heavy  moulded 
timbers.  The  furniture  in  the  room  includes  an  excellent  table  with  one  dropping  leaf 
and  six  legs — at  least  there  is  no  evidence  of  there  having  been  another  leaf  with  two 
more  legs  on  the  side  nearest  the  spectator;  chairs  of  about  1700  and  of  unusual  grace 
and  delicacy  of  design,  and  various  utensils  more  interesting  to  the  student  of  manners 
and  customs  than  to  the  artist.  Such  a  student  may  enjoy  the  coffee-pot  with  a  choice 
of  spouts,  one  spout  set  at  a  right  angle  to  the  handle  and  another  in  the  line  with  the 
handle,  so  that  the  mistress  of  the  house  can  pour  in  the  English  or  the  French  way  at 
pleasure.  In  this  room  the  partition  of  heavy  planks  should  be  noted;  each  plank  worked 
with  a  bevelled  edge  on  one  side  and  a  rabbet  and  moulded  tongue  on  the  other  side,  so 
that  they  fit  one  another  like  clapboards.     R.  S. 

Trunks  and  Foot-warmers.        .        .       facing  224 

(Compare  also  those  in  the  Hancock-Clarke  kitchen,  facing  page  155.)  The  cylindri- 
cal form  of  traveling  trunk  was  rare  in  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  convenient  for 
packing  on  horses  or  mules;  but  the  piece  in  question  is  a  little  too  elaborate  for  that  and 
suggests  rather  the  back  of  the  traveling  carriage  or  post-chaise.  The  design,  if  so  sim- 
ple a  composition  can  be  called  by  that  name,  with  large  brass  nails  holding  bands  of 
colored  leather  to  the  hair-covered  trunk,  is  full  of  interest.     R.  S. 

Oak  Chest  with  Drawers   .  .       facing  226 

Worked  all  over  with  very  slight  incisions  which,  though  the  manner  of  decoration  is 
feeble  and  the  forms  arbitrary,  non-traditional  and  without  purpose,  has  yet  a  pretty  ef- 
fect when  considered  as  a  covering  pattern — as  if  a  wall  paper  of  unusual  design  had  been 
applied  to  the  surface.     R.  S. 

Looking-glass  Frame        .        .        .        facing  230 

This  is  a  typical  olive-wood  frame  of  the  period. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Part  III 


< 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Part  III:  Early  New  England 

IMPORTED  AND  HOME-MADE    PIECES  OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH 

CENTURY 

HERE  is  a  general  impression  that  the  early 
settlers  of  New  England  were  a  somewhat 

T fanatical  band  of  Pilgrims  who  left  the  van- 
ities of  the  world  behind  them  and  sought 
the  wilds  of  the  west  in  order  to  live  a 
simple  life  in  accordance  with  the  dictates 
of  their  own  conscience.  We  must  remember,  however, 
that  when  the  Pilgrim's  Progress  appearep",  half  a  century  had 
already  elapsed  since  the  Mayflower  had  sailed,  and  therefore 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers  can  scarcely  have  consciously  taken 
Bunyan's  humble  hero  as  a  model.  Many  of  them  were  far 
from  humble  in  station,  and  they  certainly  did  not  despise  the 
loaves,  and,  more  especially,  the  fishes  of  the  New  England 
coasts.  They  came  in  the  interests  of  a  trading  company. 
Freedom  of  worship,  moreover,  was  no  stronger  inducement 
to  many  to  come,  than  was  freedom  from  oppressive  taxa- 
tion.    Many  left  their  country  rather  than  pay  the  taxes, 

1 55 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  these  No  Subsidy  men  of  course  took  their  movables 
with  them,  or  had  them  sent  on  as  soon  as  they  were 
settled.  The  first  houses  were  small  and  rude  enough,  but 
very  soon  we  find  commodious  and  comfortable  dwellings 
rilled  with  furniture  that  has  nothing  suggestive  of  the 
pioneer  or  backwoodsman.  A  thousand  pounds  was  a 
great  sum  of  money  in  those  days,  but  before  1650  there 
were  plenty  of  men  in  New  England  who  were  worth 
that  amount.  Some  were  even  more  wealthy.  In  1645, 
Thomas  Cortmore,  of  Charlestown,  died  worth  ^"1,255. 
Humphrey  Chadburn,  of  York,  ^1,713,  lived  till  ten 
years  later.  Joseph  Weld,  of  Roxbury,  owned  ^2,028  in 
1646,  and  the  possessions  of  F.  Brewster  and  T.  Eaton,  of 
New  Haven,  were  respectively  valued  at  ^1,000  and 
^"3,000  in  1643.  Opulent  Bostonians  who  were  all  dead 
by  1660  were  John  Coggan,  ,£1,339;  John  Cotton, 
^1,038;  John  Clapp,  ^1,506;  Thomas  Dudley,  ^1,560; 
Captain  George  Dell,  ^1,506;  William  Paddy,  ^2,221; 
Captain  William  Tinge,  ^2,774  ;  Robert  Keayne,  ^3,000  ; 
John  Holland,  ^3,325  ;  William  Paine,  ^4,230 ;  Henry 
Webb,  ^7,819;  and  Jacob  Sheafe,  ^"8,528.  It  would  be 
an  error  to  assume  that  the  bulk  of  this  wealth  was  due  to 
wide  domains,  for  the  average  plantations  in  New  England 
were  very  small  in  comparison  to  those  in  the  South.  As  a 
rule,  the  personalty  far  exceeded  the  realty ;  land,  more- 
over, was  cheap.  George  Phillips  will  serve  as  a  type  of 
the  prosperous  class  of  Boston  in  the  early  days.  He  died 
in  1644.  His  estate  was  appraised  at  ^553.  Of  this,  the 
dwelling-house,  barn,  outhouse  and  fifteen  acres  of  land 
only  amounted  to  ^120,  whereas  the  study  of  books  alone 
was  worth  ^71-9-0.  The  house  contained  a  parlour, 
hall,  parlour  chamber,  kitchen  chamber,  kitchen  and  dairy. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  hall  was  furnished  with  a  table,  two  stools  and  a  chest. 
The  parlour  contained  a  high  curtained  bedstead  with 
feather  bed,  a  long  table,  two  stools,  two  chairs  and  a  chest 
(all  made  comfortable  with  six  cushions)  and  a  valuable 
silver  "salt"  with  spoons.  In  the  other  rooms  were  rive 
beds,  four  chests,  two  trunks,  one  table,  one  stool,  bed  and 
table  linen,  and  kitchen  stuff.  A  good  example  of  a 
kitchen,  that  of  the  Hancock  House,  Lexington,  Mass., 
faces  page  155. 

William  Goodrich,  of  Watertown  (died  1647),  is  an 
example  of  the  settler  of  moderate  means.  His  furniture 
is  evidently  of  the  plainest  kind  and  probably  made  by  a 
local  joiner,  since  his  cupboard,  chest,  two  boxes,  chair- 
table,  joint  stool,  plain  chair  and  cowl,  are  valued  at  only 
eighteen  shillings,  while  the  flock  bed  with  its  furnishings 
is  appraised  at  ^5-4-0.  The  latter,  however,  is  worth 
more  than  half  as  much  as  his  dwelling  house  and  five  and 
one-half  acres  of  planting  land  in  the  township,  three  acres 
of  remote  meadow  and  twenty-five  acres  of  "divident," 
which  total  only  ^10  altogether. 

The  wealth  of  the  settlers  consisted,  in  many  cases,  of 
"English  goods"  including  all  kinds  of  clothing,  cotton, 
linen,  woolen  and  silk  stuffs;  and  tools,  implements,  ves- 
sels and  utensils  of  iron,  pewter,  brass,  wood  and  earthen- 
ware. It  is  surprising,  however,  on  scanning  the  numer- 
ous inventories  of  merchandise,  to  see  how  few  articles  of 
furniture  were  on  sale  in  the  various  stores.  The  mani- 
fest conclusion  is  that  such  furniture  as  was  not  brought 
in  by  the  immigrants  was  either  specially  made  here  or 
ordered  from  local  or  foreign  agents.  Henry  Shrimpton, 
of  Boston,  who  died  in  1666  with  an  estate  of  ^12,000, 
had  goods  to  the  value  of  about  ,£3,300  to  supply  the 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


needs  of  the  community,  but  practically  none  of  his  stock 
was  wooden  furniture. 

Thomas  Morton,  writing  in  1632,  says:  "Handicrafts- 
men there  were  but  few,  the  Tumelor  or  Cooper,  Smiths 
and  Carpenters  are  best  welcome  amongst  them,  shopkeep- 
ers there  are  none,  being  supplied  by  the  Massachusetts 
merchants  with  all  things  they  stand  in  need  of,  keeping 
here  and  there  fair  magazines  stored  with  English  goods, 
but  they  set  excessive  prices  on  them,  if  they  do  not  gain 
Cent  per  Cent,  they  cry  out  that  they  are  losers." 

The  first  houses  at  Plymouth  were  constructed  of 
rough-hewn  timber  with  thatched  roofs  and  window  panes 
of  oiled  paper.  The  chimneys  were  raised  outside  the 
walls,  and  the  hearths  laid  and  faced  with  stones  and  clay. 
Edward  Winslow,  who  next  to  Bradford  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  colony,  writes  in  1621  :  "In  this  little  time 
that  a  few  of  us  have  been  here,  we  have  built  seven  dwell- 
ing houses  and  four  for  the  use  of  the  plantation,  and  have 
made  preparations  for  divers  others."  In  the  same  letter 
he  enjoins  his  friend  to  bring  plenty  of  clothes  and  bed- 
ding, fowling-pieces  and  "paper  and  linseed  oil  for  your 
windows  with  cotton  yarn  for  your  lamps." 

Quite  early,  however,  imported  glass  was  used  in  the 
windows.  In  1629,  Higginson  writes  from  Salem  to  his 
friends  in  England :  "  Be  sure  to  furnish  yourselves  with 
glass  for  windows." 

Framed  houses  were  constructed  very  early.  Roger 
Conant  had  one  that  was  taken  down  and  re-erected  at 
Salem  on  his  removal  thither  in  1628.  These  dwellings  of 
course  were  always  in  danger  on  account  of  the  "  great  fires  " 
necessitated  by  the  severe  winter.  Brick  therefore  was  made 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  then  the  house  was  built  around  a 

158 


CARVED  OAK  CUPBOARD 

Owned  by  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wetbersfield,  Conn.     See  page  i6j. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


central  chimney  stack,  big  and  solid.  Before  long  also, 
some  houses  were  built  entirely  of  brick,  and  glass  took 
the  place  of  paper  in  the  windows.     Glass  works  were 


SETTLE   WITH    TABLE  TOP 
Owned  by  Mr.  James  Floyd  Russell,  Lexington,  Mass. 


established  at  Salem  before  1638,  and  the  glazier  appears 
among  the  lists  of  artisans.  In  1652  James  Browne,  gla- 
zier, sold  a  parcel  of  land  in  Charlestown.  William 
Wardell's  "  glass  window,  seven  foot  and  the  frame,"  was 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


appraised  at  seven  shillings  in  1670.  The  towns  regulated 
matters  relating  to  the  dwellings.  In  the  town  records  of 
Boston  are  many  entries  showing  the  care  exercised :  "  Oc- 
tober 26,  1636.  Thomas  Mount  shall  have  leave  to  fence 
in  a  peece  of  the  marsh  before  his  house  for  the  makeing 
of  brick  in."  In  1658,  John  Conney  presumed  to  set  up 
a  kiln  without  permission  and  was  enjoined.  The  same 
year  we  find  an  order  against  the  practice  of  carrying  fire 
"  from  one  house  into  another  in  open  fire  pans  or  brands 
ends  by  reason  or  which  great  damage  may  accrew  to  the 
towne."     In  1648,  permission  is  given  to  build  porches. 

The  abundant  woods  of  oak-,  ash,  elm,  walnut,  maple, 
cedar  and  pine  supplied  all  that  was  required  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  houses  and  their  furniture.  Thomas  Mor- 
ton, writing  in  1632,  says  of  the  red  cedar:  "This  wood 
cuts  red  and  is  good  for  bedsteads,  tables  and  chests,  and 
may  be  placed  in  the  catelogue  of  commodities."  He 
also  praises  the  red  oak  "for  wainscot."  "There  is  like- 
wise black  Walnut  of  precious  use  for  Tables,  Cabinets 
and  the  like." 

House-building  was  of  course  the  first  task  of  the 
settlers.  A  "great  house"  had  already  been  built  in 
Charlestown  in  1629,  and  here  the  Governor  and  some  of 
the  patentees  dwelt.  "  The  multitude  set  up  cottages, 
booths  and  tents  about  the  town  hall." 

The  outfit  of  the  average  immigrant  was  a  very  simple 
one  and  the  wealthier  settlers  brought  in  the  original  ships 
only  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  a  rough  existence.  The 
finer  furniture  followed  as  soon  as  the  reasonable  prospect 
of  permanent  settlement  warranted.  Chests  and  chairs 
that  came  with  the  first  arrivals  are  still  in  existence. 

One  of  these  is  owned  by  the  Connecticut  Historical 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Now  in  the  Whipple  House,  Ipswich,  Mass. 


Society  in  Hartford,  having  been  brought  over  in  the 
May/lower  by  William  Brewster  the  Elder.  It  is  a  per- 
fectly plain  chest  of  painted  pine  with  plain  iron  handles. 
A  list  of  necessaries  for  the  voyage  in  1629  includes: 
"Fifty  mats  to  be  under  50  beds  on  board  ship,  50  rugs, 
50  pr.  blankets  of  Welsh  cotton,  100  pr.  sheets,  50  bed 
ticks  and  bolsters  with  wool  to  put  in  them  and  Scotch 
ticking." 

A  typical  oak  chest  of  the  period,  brought  from  Eng- 
land in  the  ship  Lyon  about  1637,  was  presented  to  the 
Historical  Society  of  Rhode  Island  by  William  Field,  of 
Pomfret,  Conn.,  and  is  now  in  the  rooms  of  this  society  in 
Providence,  R.  I.  It  belonged  originally  to  the  Field 
family.  The  old  oak  chest  in  the  accompanying  illustra- 
tion is  now  in  the  Whipple  House  at  Ipswich,  Mass. 

161 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


An  example  of  an  immigrant  whose  possessions  were 
not  limited  to  the  bare  necessaries  of  an  indentured  servant 
is  offered  by  Peter  Branch,  who  died  on  the  Castle  on  the 
voyage  to  New  England  in  1639.  Besides  clothes  and 
tools,  he  had  a  lot  of  household  linen,  six  cushions,  feather 
bedding,  twenty-seven  shillings'  worth  of  red  wine,  and 
several  trunks  and  chests.  The  total  value  of  his  goods 
was  about  ^34. 

Public  and  private  interests  frequently  required  per- 
sonal attention  in  England,  and  therefore  there  was  much 
voyaging  back  and  forth.  On  their  return,  the  travellers 
would  naturally  bring  articles  that  were  dearest,  or  hardest 
to  get  in  the  colonies.  All  the  products  of  the  loom  were 
especially  profitable,  as  were  also  all  kinds  of  wrought 
metal.  Returning  travellers  brought  home  presents  for 
their  families  just  as  they  do  to-day.  On  his  return  from  a 
visit  to  England  in  1689,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  the 
famous  diarist,  had  aboard  the  America  three  small  trunks 
carved  with  the  initials  of  his  children's  names  and  the 
year  of  their  birth ;  a  barrel  of  books,  a  sea-chest,  a  bed 
quilt  and  four  blankets,  a  large  trunk  marked  H.  S.  with 
nails,  two  other  trunks,  a  deal  box  of  linen,  a  small  case  of 
liquors  and  a  great  case  of  bottles. 

The  dangers  and  discomforts  of  a  voyage  at  that  day 
were  extreme.  It  is  to  be  noticed  that  Mr.  Sewall  paid 
two  shillings  and  nine  pence  for  "  a  bed  of  straw  to  lay 
under  my  feather  bed"  for  the  voyage  back  to  Boston. 
Perhaps  the  most  calamitous  venture  in  the  early  days  of 
New  England  was  that  of  the  Great  Ship  which  carried 
large  investments  of  many  members  of  the  New  Haven 
colony  and  some  of  its  most  prominent  personages,  includ- 
ing Captain  Turner,  Mr.  Gregson,  Mr.  Lamberton  and 

162 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Mrs.  Goodyear.  The  Great  Ship  was  of  only  160  tons 
burden ;  she  sailed  in  i  646  and  was  never  heard  of  again. 
The  loss  nearly  ruined  the  little  colony  and  so  profoundly 
impressed  the  popular  imagination  that  the  vessel's  phan- 
tom became  a  local  legend. 

The  inventories  of  the  estates  of  those  who  were  lost 
in  this  disaster  afford  a  clear  view  of  the  household  goods 
of  prominent  people  of  the  early  days  of  the  colony. 
George  Lamberton  was  worth  ^1,200.  He  was  especially 
rich  in  linen  (including  80  napkins),  bed  covering,  "car- 
pets," cupboard,  table,  board  and  chimney  cloths.  He 
also  owned  down  and  feather  beds  with  "  curtains,  valence 
and  stuff  for  hangings;"  1  silk,  4  window  and  8  other 
cushions;  needlework  for  a  cupboard  cloth,  ^1-10-0;  sil- 
ver plate  to  the  value  of  ^36  ;  4  chests,  2  trunks  and  6 
boxes;  11  chairs  and  5  stools;  1  square,  1  round  and  1 
drawing  table;  a  case  of  boxes,  a  cupboard,  and  fire-irons 
and  andirons.  A  globe  with  a  Turkey  covering  was  worth 
the  large  sum  of  £j ;  and  the  dwelling,  lot,  etc.,  with 
outhouses  and  pump  was  valued  at  ^"255. 

The  above-mentioned  cupboard,  adorned  with  bright 
cloths  and  silver  plate,  is  found  in  practically  every  house- 
hold of  the  day.  A  fine  specimen  of  carved  oak,  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  of  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  is 
represented  both  open  and  shut  (see  frontispiece  and 
facing  page  158).  It  was  called  the  "court  cupboard," 
"press  cupboard,"  or,  simply,  "cupboard."  The  present 
example  was  probably  brought  in  by  one  of  the  first 
settlers,  for  the  upper  part  has  the  half  hexagon  shape 
of  many  of  the  Elizabethan  pieces.  (See  plate  facing 
page  36.) 

Mr.  Thomas  Gregson's  house  had  seven  or  eight  rooms. 

1 63 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  hall  contained  a  table  with  carpet,  a  form,  a  chair,  2 
covered  chairs,  4  low  and  5  joint  stools,  a  clock  and  a  great 
chest.  The  chimney  was  furnished  with  andirons,  shovel, 
tongs,  an  iron  crane  and  hooks.  Two  window  cushions 
made  an  additional  comfortable  seat.  The  other  rooms  con- 
tained eight  flock  and  feather  beds  with  curtains,  rods,  etc.; 
there  were  "hangings  for  the  chamber,"  window  curtains, 
and  ample  bed,  table  and  household  linen.  Books  to  the 
value  of  ^2-5-0,  silver  plate  (33  oz.),  77  lbs.  of  pewter 
and  a  warming-pan  are  also  found.  The  parlour  was  fur- 
nished with  two  tables  (one  of  which  was  round)  one  car- 
pet, one  cupboard  and  cloth,  eight  chairs  with  four  green 
cushions  and  thirteen  stools,  four  window  cushions,  ten  cur- 
tains, and  andirons,  hooks,  fire-irons,  etc.  The  house  also 
contained  another  table  and  cupboard.  The  estate  totalled 
^"490,  the  house  being  worth  about  ^148. 

Mrs.  Goodyear  was  the  wife  of  the  Governor,  who  sur- 
vived her  twelve  years.  His  inventory  (1658),  with  a  total 
of  ^804-9-10,  also  shows  much  comfort  and  elegance. 
Coverings,  "carpets,"  hangings,  cloths,  curtains,  cushions 
and  linen  abound.  The  seats  comprise  "  three  covered 
chairs,  a  great  chair,  twelve  lesser  chairs,  a  little  chair, 
stools,  six  stools,  six  joined  stools  and  two  plain  forms." 
Besides  curtained  beds,  the  furniture  included  chests,  trunks, 
a  chest  of  drawers,  a  cupboard,  a  court  cupboard,  a  side 
cupboard,  a  " screetore,"  a  drawing  table,  a  long  "draw 
table,"  two  round  and  two  small  tables.  Brass  andirons, 
silver  plate,  and  the  usual  pewter  and  kitchen  stuff  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  are  also  found. 

The  "great  chair,"  above  mentioned,  was  undoubt- 
edly similar  to  the  one  opposite,  which  is  a  massive 
piece  of  furniture  of  turned  and  carved  oak.    The  joints 

,6+ 


CARVED  OAK  CHAIR 

Brought  to  Ipsuuich  in  1634.     Owned  by  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.     See  page  /6j. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


are  mortised  and  tenoned  and  held  together  with  wooden 
pegs.  This  kind  of  "baronial  oak"  was  still  found  in  many 
houses  during  the  Jacobean  period.  The  desirability  of  the 
ever  present  cushion  is  very  evident.  This  handsome 
specimen  was  brought  to  Ipswich  by  the  Dennis  family  in 
1634,  and  was  presented  by  Mr.  Robert  Brookhouse  to  the 
Essex  Historical  Society,  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1  82 1 .  A  similar 
chair,  which  differs  only  in  carving  and  inlay,  is  owned  by 
Mr.  John  J.  Bingley,  of  Hanover,  Penn.  An  oak  chair 
said  to  have  been  brought  into  the  country  in  the  Hector 
in  1633,  among  the  possessions  of  the  first  emigrants  to 
Newbury,  is  owned  by  Miss  Poore  at  Indian  Hi/I,  near 
Newburyport,  Mass. 

Mr.  Francis  Brewster,  another  of  the  early  notabilities 
of  New  Haven,  died  in  1 647,  when  the  colony  had 
already  lost  much  of  its  prosperity.  His  estate  was  valued 
at  ^555'  wnereas  four  years  before  it  had  been  valued  at 
^1,000.  In  the  Great  Ship  he  had  lost  ^50.  His  "house, 
home  lot,  and  all  the  farm"  were  appraised  at  £200.  His 
furniture  was  not  especially  rich,  though  by  no  means 
plain.  An  East  India  quilt  and  an  East  India  cabinet  and 
some  blue  dishes  show  the  intercourse  with  the  neighbour- 
ing Dutch  settlement  of  New  Amsterdam,  which  was  a 
great  emporium  for  Oriental  goods,  as  will  appear  in  our 
next  section.  Besides  the  beds  and  a  good  deal  of  linen  and 
pewter,  the  most  noticeable  articles  are  a  looking-glass,  four 
window  cushions,  five  other  cushions,  and  three  blue  chairs. 
The  only  other  seats  mentioned  are  three  stools.  He  also 
has  "two  old  sackbuts."  He  was  connected  with  our  next 
example,  Fear  Brewster  having  been  married  to  Isaac  Aller- 
ton  in  1  626. 

Isaac  Allerton,  the  enterprising  and  restless  gentleman 

165 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


trader,  fifth  signer  of  the  Mayflower  compact,  lived  in 
Plymouth,  New  York,  Virginia,  and,  finally,  New  Haven. 
There  he  had  a  "  grand  house  on  the  creek  with  four 
porches."  When  it  was  pulled  down  the  workmen  reported 
that  the  timber  was  all  of  the  finest  oak  and  the  "  best  of 
joiners  had  placed  it  in  position."  At  his  death  in  1658, 
his  estate  only  amounted  to  ^1  18-5-2.  The  furniture  was 
small  in  quantity,  though  by  no  means  common.  It 
included  a  great  chair  and  two  other  chairs,  a  draw  table 
and  a  form,  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  small  old  table,  five  cush- 
ions, carpets,  beds,  five  brass  candlesticks,  and  the  usual 
pewter,  andirons,  etc. 

A  fine  example  of  the  most  fashionable  table  at  this 
period  faces  page  160.  It  was  originally  one  of  the 
varieties  of  small  "drawing  tables."  The  top  slab  is 
comparatively  new.  The  great  bulbs  in  the  legs  are  black 
with  the  favourite  ebony  effect  found  in  all  the  drawing 
tables  and  so  many  of  the  old  bedsteads.  This  is  a  rare 
specimen,  as  the  table  with  a  drawer  seldom  occurs  in  the 
New  England  inventories  so  early  as  this.  It  was  brought 
to  Salem  by  John  Pickering  in  1636,  and  has  been  in  the 
present  Pickering  house  ever  since  it  was  built  in  1650, 
where  it  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Pickering. 

Governor  Theophilus  Eaton,  who  was  for  so  long  the 
dominant  figure  in  the  New  Haven  Colony,  had  a  very  fine 
home  for  his  numerous  family.  He  died  in  1658,  and  we 
cannot  find  a  better  example  of  a  man  of  wealth  and  posi- 
tion. Unlike  the  majority  of  so  many  houses  of  the  day,  his 
hall  contained  no  bed.  We  find  two  tables,  one  round  and 
one  "drawing";  the  latter  was  attended  with  two  long 
forms.  Then  there  were  two  high  and  four  low  chairs, 
four  high  and  two  low  stools,  and  six  high  joint  stools.  To 

166 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


make  these  comfortable,  there  were  six  green  and  four  set- 
work  cushions.  A  livery,  or  court,  cupboard  stood  against 
the  wall  and  was  covered  with  a  cloth  and  cushions.  There 
were  two  fireplaces  in  the  hall,  garnished  with  one  large 
and  one  small  pair  of  brass  andirons,  tongs,  fire  pans,  and 
bellows.  The  tables  were  adorned  with  two  Turkey  car- 
pets. There  was  also  "a  great  chair  with  needlework." 
Other  articles  mentioned  are  a  pewter  cistern  and  a  can- 
dlestick. The  livery  cupboard  above  mentioned  was  prob- 
ably the  "dresser"  against  which  the  Governor's  violent 
wife  thumped  her  step-daughter's  (Mistress  Mary's)  head, 
according  to  the  servant's  evidence  at  the  lady's  trial. 

The  parlour  contained  a  bedstead  and  trundle  bed,  with 
curtains  and  bedding,  a  great  table,  a  livery  cupboard,  a 
high  and  a  low  chair,  six  high  stools  with  green  and  red 
covers,  two  low  stools  and  the  usual  brass  chimney  ware. 

"  Mr.  Eaton's  chamber  "  contained  a  canopy  bed 
with  feather  bedding,  curtains,  and  valance,  a  little  cup- 
board with  drawers,  another  bed,  bedding  and  curtains, 
two  chests,  a  box,  and  two  cases  of  bottles,  a  desk,  two 
chairs,  three  high  joint  stools  and  three  low  stools.  The 
room  had  hangings,  and  curtains  were  at  the  windows. 
The  hearth  had  its  usual  appointments  of  brass,  and  an 
iron  back. 

Other  apartments  included  the  "Green  Chamber,"  in 
which  the  table  and  cupboard  cloths,  carpets,  cushions  and 
curtains  were  green  and  some  of  them  laced  and  fringed. 
There  were  also  Turkey-work  and  needlework  cushions 
and  rich  hangings  about  the  chamber.  A  bedstead  with 
down  bedding  and  tapestry  covering,  a  great  chair,  two 
little  ones,  six  low  stools,  a  looking-glass,  a  couch  and 
appurtenances,  a  short  table,  a  cypress  chest  and  a  valuable 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"  cubbord  with  drawers"  were  also  found  here.  The  fire- 
place with  brass  furnishings  was  not  wanting. 

The  "Blue  Chamber"  was  also  plentifully  furnished, 
the  hangings,  rugs  and  curtains  being  of  the  same  hue. 

A  great  deal  of  household  linen  was  kept  here  in  two 
trunks,  an  iron-bound  case,  and  a  great  cupboard  with 
drawers,  which  was  worth  half  as  much  again  as  the  one 
in  the  "  Green  Chamber." 

There  were  three  other  chambers  besides  the  kitchen 
and  counting-house,  all  sufficiently  furnished.  The  count- 
ing-house contained  "  a  cupboard  with  a  chest  of  drawers," 
which  was  the  most  expensive'  article  of  furniture  in  the 
house,  being  valued  at  ^"4,  a  square  table,  a  chair,  and 
two  iron-bound  chests,  besides  some  other  trifles.  The  house 
contained  china,  earthenware,  pewter,  silver  plate,  and  the 
usual  kitchen  stuff ;  and  some  books,  a  globe  and  a  map 
valued  at  ^"48-15-0  also  occur.  The  total  amounted  to 
^1,440-15-0.  The  decline  of  prosperity  had  affected  the 
Governor,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  community, 
since  in  1643  his  possessions  had  been  valued  at  ^3,000. 

The  great  cupboard  with  drawers  in  the  "  Blue  Cham- 
ber," as  well  as  those  in  the  "  Green  Chamber,"  cannot 
be  better  illustrated  than  by  the  example,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass.,  and  shown  on  page 
169,  the  panelling  and  applied  black  spindle  ornaments  of 
which  were  in  great  favour,  during  this  period,  for  cup- 
boards as  well  as  for  chests  and  chests  of  drawers.  These 
ornaments  were  often  made  of  maple  and  stained  black  to 
represent  ebony.  When  brass  trimmings  are  found,  these 
are  often  later  additions,  as  the  handles  were  generally 
wooden  knobs  in  character  with  the  spindles.  In  most  of 
the  cupboards,  chests,  etc.,  the  drawers  are  not  in  pairs,  as 

168 


CLOCK  WITH  JAPANNED  CASE 

Made  in  England.    Owned  by  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer, 
Wetbersfield ,  Conn.     See  page  ijt. 


BRASS  CLOCK  WITHOUT  CASE 

Owned  by  Mr.  Henry  Fitz,  H  aters,  Salem,  Mass. 
See  page  IJ2. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


they  appear,  and  as  the  knobs  and  divisions  would  seem  to 
show,  but  are  one  long  drawer,  as  in  this  example.  (See 
also  facing  page  214.)  The  compartments  above  and  below 
the  middle  drawer  are  fitted  with  shelves.  A  glance  at  this 
plate  will  make  perfectly  clear  what  is  meant  by  the  fre- 
quent mention  of  plate 
and  porcelain  on  the 
cupboard,  in  the  cup- 
board, and  on  the 
cupboard  head.  The 
cupboard  has  already 
been  defined  on  pages 
22  and  36. 

The  household 
possessions,  already 
enumerated,  afford 
ample  evidence  that 
comfort  and  elegance 
were  by  no  means  rare 
in  the  New  England 
home  during  the  reign 
of  Charles  I.  The 
fanatical  Puritan,  with 
his  hatred  of  images 
and  idolatrous  pictures 

and  carving,  was  not  yet  in  full  control.  England  was  still 
the  principal  battle-ground,  and  on  the  execution  of  the 
King  in  1649,  the  colonies  received  a  large  influx  of  fugi- 
tive Royalists,  followed  in  turn  by  Cromwell's  followers  at 
the  Restoration  eleven  years  later.  Domestic  carved  oak 
naturally  shared  somewhat  in  the  disgrace  into  which  eccle- 
siastical art  work  had  fallen  in  Puritanical  minds.  The 


OAK.   CUPBOARD   WITH  DRAWERS 
In  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass. 


1  69 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bare  walls  and  hideous  plaster  ceiling,  for  which  our  thanks 
are  still  due  to  the  Puritan  iconoclasts,  doubtless  extended 
their  severe  influence  to  the  furniture  in  a  "  root-and- 
branch "  community.  Anything  that  recalled  the  carved 
rood  screens,  high  altars,  or  choir  stalls,  would  be  objec- 
tionable, and  so  the  great  carved  oak  chairs,  chests,  livery 
cupboards,  cabinets,  etc.,  became  unpopular  with  this  class 
on  both  sides  of  the  water,  and  Dutch  influences  in  furni- 
ture reached  New  England  through  Leyden  and  New  Am- 
sterdam even  before  the  style  accompanied  William  of 
Orange  into  Old  England.  It  must  not  be  supposed,  how- 
ever, that  all  were  of  the  same  mind.  New  England  was 
not  settled  exclusively  by  Nonconformists  and  schismatics. 
Roger  Conant  was  a  good  type  of  the  Episcopalian,  and  Sir 
Christopher  Gardiner  was  as  dissolute  and  turbulent  as  the 
average  cavalier  was  reputed  to  be  by  the  godly.  Men  of 
birth  and  breeding,  men  accustomed  to  courts  and  kings' 
chambers,  men  of  means  and  respectability,  were  by  no 
means  the  exception  in  the  various  settlements.  Sir  Harry 
Vane  was  only  a  sojourner  in  the  land;  but  the  Saltonstalls 
were  aristocratic  settlers.  Ladies  of  title  also  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  cross  the  seas  and  incur  the  hardships  and  dangers 
of  a  frontier  life.  Among  others  there  was  Lady  Arabella 
Johnson,  the  daughter  of  an  English  earl.  She,  however, 
died  at  Salem  within  a  month  of  her  arrival,  in  August, 
1630;  and  her  husband  soon  followed  her.  Lady  Susan 
Humfrey,  sister  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  also  arrived  at 
Boston  in  1634.  It  was  not  poverty  that  brought  them 
here.  Then  there  was  Lady  Moody,  a  cousin  of  Sir  H. 
Vane,  who  came  to  Salem  in  1639.  Unfortunately,  she 
seriously  differed  with  the  local  authorities  on  the  subject 
of  baptism  and  found  it  convenient  to  proceed  further  be- 

170 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


fore  very  long.  In  1643  she  went  to  Gravesend  (L.  I.), 
and  died  there  in  1659.  Isaac  Allerton  successfully  steered 
his  political  craft  through  the  shoals  and  breakers  of  the 
corrupt  Stuart  court;  and  Brewster  had  been  with  Secretary 
Davison  before  he  fell  into  disgrace  with  the  Virgin  Queen. 
Men  of  position,  wealth  and  learning  came  to  New  Eng- 
land in  considerable  numbers. 

In  1638  Winthrop  notes  in  his  diary:  "Many  ships 
arrived  this  year,  with  people  of  good  quality  and  estate, 
notwithstanding  the  Council's  order  that  none  such  should 
come  without  the  King's  order."  Among  those  who  in- 
tended to  come,  history  mentions  Oliver  Cromwell  himself. 
If  he  had  not  been  prevented,  Charles  I.  might  not  have 
lost  his  head.  Some  of  those  who  arrived  were  quite 
wealthy :  Thomas  Flint,  of  Concord,  brought  in  an  estate 
of  ^'2,000.  Numerous  inventories  show  that  this  class  of 
settlers  was  not  satisfied  with  such  primitive  furniture  as 
could  be  constructed  with  a  hammer,  board  and  nails. 
"Baronial  oak,"  plate,  pictures,  clocks,  fine  linen,  tapestry 
and  other  hangings  testify  of  luxury  in  addition  to  mere  con- 
venience. It  is  noticeable  too  that  even  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel would  "  manage  to  submit  to  these  luxurious  superflui- 
ties." The  Rev.  John  Norton's  inventory  (Boston,  1663) 
amounted  to  ^2,095-3-0.  Among  his  numerous  posses- 
sions were  729  books,  ^300;  132  oz.  of  plate,  ^33:  a  case 
of  drawers  containing  English  and  Spanish  coins,  ^135; 
and  a  clock  and  case  in  the  parlour.  Another  divine  who 
owned  something  beyond  his  staff*  and  scrip  was  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Haines,  of  Hartford.  In  1679,  his  estate  totalled 
^2,280. 

Mr.  Norton's  clock  and  case  is  a  very  early  instance  of 
the  tall  clock.     An  early  example  of  one  with  a  japanned 

171 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


case  faces  page  1 68.  According  to  the  name  on  the  dial, 
it  was  made  by  Thomas  Gardner,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  London  Society  of  Clockmakers  in  1687.  This  speci- 
men belongs  to  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wethersfield,  Conn. 
The  brass  clock  without  case  is  of  earlier  date.  It  was 
made  by  Jno.  Snatt,  of  Ashford,  and  belongs  to  Mr.  Henry 
Fitz  Waters,  Salem,  Mass. 

Evidence  of  "  bravery,"  fashion  and  other  worldly 
vanities  are  plainly  visible  in  New  England  during  the 
seventeenth  century,  despite  the  efforts  of  the  city  fathers 
to  repress  such  forms  of  sin.  The  pursuit  of  worldly 
pleasure  gave  great  trouble  to  the  patriarchs.  The  taste 
for  elegance  in  the  home,  or  the  love  of  fine  linen,  was 
not  left  behind  in  England  by  all  the  pilgrims,  by  any 
means.  An  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Winthrop  in 
1630  shows  how  serious  the  evil  was  in  some  cases.  "A 
godly  woman  of  the  church  of  Boston,  dwelling  sometime 
in  London,  brought  with  her  a  parcel  of  very  fine  linen  of 
great  value,  which  she  set  her  heart  too  much  upon,  and 
had  been  at  charge  to  have  it  all  newly  washed  and  cur- 
iously folded  and  pressed,  and  so  left  it  in  the  press  in  her 
parlour  over  night.  She  had  a  negro  maid  who  went  into 
the  room  very  late,  and  let  fall  some  snuff  of  the  candle 
upon  the  linen,  so  as  by  morning  all  the  linen  was  burned 
to  tinder,  and  the  boards  underneath,  and  some  stools  and 
a  part  of  the  wainscot  burned,  and  never  perceived  by  any 
in  the  house,  though  some  lodged  in  the  chamber  over- 
head, and  no  ceiling  between.  But  it  pleased  God  that  the 
loss  of  this  linen  did  her  much  good,  both  in  taking  off  her 
heart  from  worldly  comforts,  and  in  preparing  her  for  a  far 
greater  affliction  by  the  untimelv  death  of  her  husband, 
who  was  slain  not  long  after  at  Isle  of  Providence." 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  press  mentioned  above  is  plainly  not  a  press  cup- 
board, so  often  occurring  in  the  inventories,  but  the  screw- 
press  which  is  still  used  in  some  modern  households  for 
keeping  the  linen  smooth.  The  linen  must  have  been  ex- 
posed for  the  maid  to  be  able  to  drop  candle  snuff  upon  it. 
The  "boards  underneath"  also  show  what  it  was. 

Skilled  craftsmen  were  among  the  immigrants,  not 
merely  carpenters  and  housewrights,  but  turners,  joiners, 
cabinet-makers  and  even  carvers ;  and  these  men  were 
quite  capable  of  making  all  the  furniture  in  fashion  from 
the  excellent  and  varied  timber  that  abounded  in  the  woods. 
The  principal  woods  used  were  oak,  ash,  elm,  walnut, 
maple  and  pine.  Red  cedar  also  frequently  occurs.  As 
new  fashions  were  introduced  from  abroad,  they  were 
copied  here,  and  the  constant  arrivals  of  English  and 
foreign  workmen  rendered  importations  unnecessary  ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  what  only  the  rich  could  afford.  Even 
the  joiners  seem  to  have  produced  most  of  their  work  to 
order  and  to  have  kept  a  modest  stock.  As  an  example,  we 
may  take  David  Saywell,  who  died  in  Boston  in  1672.  He 
was  an  Englishman  who  came  from  Salisbury.  His  goods 
on  sale  consisted  of  "  new  bedsteads,  32  shillings;  10  joint 
stools  and  6  chair  frames,  £2  ;  24  pairs  of  iron  screws  and 
nuts,  ^2-8-0;  glue,  3  shillings;  2  chests,  3  tables,  1  cup- 
board, 2  desks,  2  boxes,  2  cabinets  and  some  new  work  in 
the  shop  not  finished;  working  tools,  a  lathe  and  benches 
in  the  shop,  boards  and  timber  in  the  yard,  ^14." 

John  Scotton,  another  joiner  of  the  same  township  (died 
1678),  had  in  his  shop:  4  boxes,  7  shillings;  3  chests,  18 
shillings;  2  bedsteads,  ^'1-12-0;  1  chest  with  drawers,  ^3; 
and  boards,  plank,  timber  and  joiner's  tools  to  the  value  of 
^20-6-5.    Three  pounds  was  quite  a  high  price  for  a  chest 

173 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  drawers  at  that  day,  and  shows  that  it  must  have  been 
an  unusually  fine  piece  of  workmanship. 

An  example  of  an  ornate  chest  with  drawers  of  native 
manufacture  faces  page  176.  It  consists  of  two  long 
drawers  beneath  a  roomy  well,  the  whole  supported  by  four 
plain  square  legs.  The  ornamentation  consists  of  maple 
or  birch  applied  spindles,  stained  to  imitate  ebony,  and 
painted  panels.  The  designs  are  conventional  roses  and 
leaves  of  ivory-white  and  rich  red,  and  the  panels  are  of 
soft  wood,  as  was  customary  with  painted  chests  made  in 
Connecticut  and  the  vicinity  during  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. Sometimes,  in  similar  specimens,  the  colouring  is  blue 
and  green.  This  piece  belongs  to  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer, 
of  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  and  has  been  in  the  possession  of 
the  present  owner's  family  for  several  generations. 

Labour  was  of  course  particularly  valuable  in  the  new 
colonies.  In  1626,  the  court  of  Plymouth  Colony  decreed 
that  "  no  handicrafts  men  soever  as  taylors,  shoemakers,  car- 
penters, joiners,  smiths,  sawiers,  or  whatsoever  which  doe 
or  may  reside  or  belong  to  this  plantation  of  Plimoth  shall 
use  their  science  or  trads  at  home  or  abroad,  for  any 
strangers  or  formers  till  such  time  as  the  necessity  of  the 
colony  be  served."  In  1630,  the  rate  of  skilled  labour  was 
sixteen  pence  per  day.  In  1633,  master  carpenters,  saw- 
yers, joiners,  etc.,  are  forbidden  to  receive  above  two  shil- 
lings per  day,  "finding  themselves  dyett,"  and  not  above 
fourteen  pence  if  boarded.  The  joiners  who  came  here 
were  not  all  indentured  servants;  some  were  already  pros- 
perous tradesmen  in  England.  In  1637,  Samuel  Dix,  joiner, 
left  Norwich  for  Boston  with  his  wife,  two  children  and  two 
apprentices,  William  Storey  and  Daniel  Linsey.  In  1635, 
John  Davies,  aged  twenty-nine,  arrived  in   the  Increase; 

1-4 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  Ralph  Mason,  aged  thirty-live,  with  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren in  the  Abigail.  A  joiner  named  Edward  Johnson, 
who  was  certainly  prosperous,  arrived  two  years  later  from 
Canterbury,  with  his  wife,  seven  children  and  three  ser- 
vants. Two  Salem  joiners  mentioned  in  1665  and  1671 
were  Samuel  Belknap  and  John  Taylor. 

Although  skilled  labour  was  a  great  desideratum  in  New 
England,  the  town  authorities  were  very  careful  not  to 
admit  shiftless  persons  into  the  community.  Somebody  had 
to  go  bail  for  every  new  comer  who  was  without  visible 
means  of  support.  Numerous  instances  of  this  custom  ex- 
ist. For  example,  on  August  30,  1680,  we  read:  "I,  John 
Usher,  of  Boston,  merchant,  bind  me  unto  Captain  Thomas 
Brattle,  treasurer  of  the  said  town  in  the  sum  of  forty 
pounds  that  William  Smith,  joiner,  shall  not  be  chargeable 
to  the  town."  Again  on  December  25,  1680,  we  find  that 
Robert  Medlecot,  merchant,  signed  the  bond  of  John  Blake, 
joiner.  There  seems  to  have  been  nothing  approaching  a 
guild,  or  solidarity,  in  the  various  trades :  those  who  went 
on  the  bond  of  others  were  not  necessarily  of  the  same 
trades. 

To  take  a  few  examples:  October  31,  1681,  William 
Taylor  and  Eliakim  Hutchinson  became  sureties  to  the 
town  for  John  Clarke,  cabinet-maker,  and  Robert  Holland, 
joiner,  and  their  families.  June  25,  1682,  Manasses  Beck, 
joiner,  is  surety  for  John  Hayward,  shopkeeper,  and  family  ; 
July  31,  1  682,  Ebenezer  Savage,  upholsterer,  for  John  Bur- 
der  and  family;  July  30,  1683,  William  Killcupp,  turner, 
for  Roger  Killcupp  and  family ;  David  Edwards,  mariner, 
for  William  Davis,  clockmaker  and  family ;  Joshua  Lamb  of 
Roxbury,  merchant,  for  John  Wolfenderer,  upholsterer,  and 
family;  October  27,  1 684,  Thomas  Stapleford,  chairmaker, 

17s 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


for  Thomas  Mallet,  draper,  and  family;  August  5,  1685, 
Thomas  Wyborne  and  Stephan  Sergeant  for  Joseph  Hill, 
varnisher,  and  family;  March  31,  1690,  Solomon  Rayns- 
ford,  joiner,  for  Edward  Morse  and  family;  May  7,  1697, 
Jeremiah  Bumstead,  joiner,  for  Provided  Medwinter  and 
family;  June  24,  1700,  William  Crow,  trunkmaker,  for 
Exercise  Connant  and  family.     In  a  list  of  persons  not  ad- 


OAK   CRADLE   AND  TABLE 
Belonging  to  the  Coffin  family.     Now  owned  by  the  Newburyport  Historical  Society. 


mitted  as  inhabitants  of  Boston  in  1683  we  find  one  "Alex- 
ander More,  upholsterer,  at  Philip  Squires." 

On  this  page  is  shown  an  oak  cradle  made  in  1680  by 
Sergeant  Stephen  Jacques  for  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Moses 
and  Lydia  Coffin.  The  oak  table  belonged  to  Joseph 
Coffin  of  the  same  family.  Both  pieces  were  presented  to 
the  Newburyport  Historical  Society  by  H.  and  A.  Little, 
of  Peabody,  Mass.  Sergeant  Jacques  was  a  master  work- 
man who  built  the  meeting-house. 

Prosperous  joiners  and  turners  were  plentiful  throughout 
New  England.  In  1 647,  Edward  Larkin  of  Charleston, 
turner,  sold  a  tenement.     Thomas  Roads  was  a  joiner  of 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


local  importance  at  Kittery,  Me.,  in  1680,  and  his  name 
appears  in  many  deeds.  Others  of  that  trade  in  York 
County  were  Philip  Huhbard,  Joseph  Hill,  Nathaniel 
Mendum  (Portsmouth),  Samuel  Brackit,  Joseph  Harris, 
John  Norton,  and  John  Woodbridge  of  Newbury,  who  was 
quite  wealthy.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  joiner 
was  what  we  now  call  the  cabinet-maker.  The  latter  term 
seldom  appears  in  the  records,  though,  as  we  have  noted, 
John  Clarke,  cabinet-maker,  went  to  Boston  in  1681. 

The  brave  Phineas  Pratt,  prominent  in  the  disasters 
that  overtook  Thomas  Weston's  colony  in  Weymouth  in 
1622,  was  a  joiner;  so  also  was  Kenelm  Wynslow,  of  Ply- 
mouth in  1634;  a  certain  John  Jenny  was  apprenticed  to  the 
latter  for  rive  years,  and  died  in  1672.  Others  of  that  craft 
who  lived  at  Boston  during  the  seventeeth  century  included 
Jacob  Fernside,  Samuel  Chanler,  Samuel  Clough,  Thomas 
Edwards,  William  Smith,  Thomas  Hichborne,  David  Ste- 
phens, Mathew  Turner,  Richard  Draper,  George  Nicker- 
son,  Jacob  Halloway,  William  Wilson,  John  White, 
William  Payne,  Thomas  Livermore,  William  Howel,  John 
Pricherd,  Henry  Messenger,  Ralph  Carter,  John  Cunnabel 
and  Thomas  Warren.  Henry  Messenger  was  a  joiner 
residing  in  Boston  prior  to  1640;  he  died  in  1 681,  owning 
property  appraised  at  ^500.  To  his  eldest  son  John  he 
left  "  five  shillings  and  no  more  for  reasons  best  known  to 
myself."  Another  son,  Henry,  was  a  joiner  also.  He  died  in 
1686  worth  ^338.  His  timber,  boards,  plank,  working  tools 
and  glue  at  the  shop  were  valued  at  ^12-9-6.  He  did  not 
keep  any  stock.  He  had  an  apprentice  named  Benjamin 
Threadneedle.  The  records  occasionally  give  us  a  hint  of 
the  actual  work  done  by  these  local  tradesmen.  Captain 
William  Hudson,  who  seems  to  have  kept  an  inn,  died  in 

177 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


1690.  At  that  day  the  public  rooms  had  distinguishing 
names.  In  this  case  the  rooms  were  called  the  "  Rose,"  "An- 
chor," "  Castle,"  and  "Swan."  The  "  Castle  "  and  "  Swan  " 

contained  two 
cupboards,  each 
appraised  at  eight 
shillings,  made  by 
Nathaniel  Adams 
of  Boston.  At 
his  death  in  1  690, 
the  latter  had  ash, 
oak,  ironwood  and 
lignum-vitas  in  his 
shop.  Thomas 
Livermore  had  in 
his  shop  at  his 
death  in  1710, 
"  two  cases  of 
drawers  part  made, 
and  100  feet  of 
black  walnut, 
.£2-15-0."  Ralph 
Carter  (died 
1699)  was  worth 

,£72,  of  which  his  tools  and  turning-wheel  came  to  _£6. 
Matthew  Smith,  turner,  and  Thomas  Webb  and  Jonathan 
Wardell,  joiners,  also  lived  in  Boston  at  the  close  of  the 
century.  The  latter  was  quite  wealthy,  his  estate  amount- 
ing to  _£  1,207  at  his  death  in  1721. 

The  example,  on  this  page,  of  an  oak  court  cupboard, 
supposed  to  have  been  made  by  a  New  England  joiner,  is 
owned  by  Mr.  George  Dudley  Seymour,  of  New  Haven, 


COURT  CUPBOARD 
Owned  by  Mr.  George  Dudley  Seymour,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Conn.  Ebony  was  scarce  in  this  country,  and  therefore 
the  black  egg  ornaments  and  turned  pillars  or  this  piece 
are  of  white  wood  stained  black  to  represent  this  wood. 
However,  it  is  not  to  be  concluded  from  this  fact  that  every 
specimen  with  stained  black  ornaments  is  of  native  make, 
for  pieces  of  English  and  Flemish  make  frequently  have 
ornaments  of  pear  and  other  woods  stained  in  imitation  of 
ebony.  It  will  be  noticed  that  this  specimen  is  almost 
identical  with  the  one  on  page  207. 

Although  New  England  possessed  such  varied  and 
bountiful  woods,  choice  foreign  timber  was  not  entirely 
despised.  Even  cedar  was  brought  in  from  Bermuda  and 
used  in  the  construction  of  chests,  and  yet  mahogany, 
strange  to  say,  was  very  slow  in  coming  into  favour,  even  if 
it  was  generally  known  to  the  cabinet-makers.  It  seems  to 
have  been  practically  non-existent  in  Boston  till  about 
1730,  when  an  occasional  table  or  dressing-box  begins  to 
appear  in  the  inventories.  The  amount  of  furniture  made 
in  the  colonies,  however,  must  have  been  considerable, 
since  it  became  an  article  of  trade  with  the  southern  colo- 
nies, and  articles  of  New  England  furniture  are  expressly 
mentioned  in  the  Charleston  inventories.  Delicate  work- 
manship was  at  the  command  of  the  native  cabinet-makers. 
Edward  Budd,  a  carver  by  trade,  was  living  in  Boston  as 
early  as  1678  ;  Richard  Knight  was  another  who  paid  his 
tax  in  1685,  and  the  names  of  other  members  of  the  same 
craft  would  reward  research. 

A  specimen  of  native  carving  of  this  period  faces  page 
178.  It  is  a  panelled  oak  chest  with  one  drawer,  and  be- 
longs to  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wethersfield,  Conn. 

Another  branch  of  the  business  was  upholstery.  Joseph 
Juet,  an  upholsterer,  appears  on   the  Boston  tax  list  for 

179 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


1688.  A  set  of  carpenter's  and  joiner's  tools  is  found  in 
the  inventory  of  many  a  yeoman,  husbandman  and  trades- 
man, so  that  much  household  furniture  of  the  rougher  sort, 
such  as  boards  and  trestles,  forms,  benches,  settles,  stools, 
etc.,  must  have  been  knocked  together  for  common  use  by 
many  a  householder.  To  be  handy  with  the  tools  was  a 
common  accomplishment.  Entries  in  the  diary  of  the 
Rev.  Jasper  Green,  of  Salem,  at  the  close  of  this  period, 
show  that  members  of  the  ministry  took  pleasure  in  man- 
ual labor  of  all  kinds.  The  following  are  a  few  examples  : 
"  1707,  Apr.  1,  Turned  the  entry  door.  Apr.  9,  Saml 
Goodale  making  our  clock  case.  .  May  6,  Very  busy  fin- 
ishing our  clock  case.  May  9,  Coloured  our  clock  case. 
Aug.  1  1,  I  got  the  mantel-tree." 

In  the  early  part  of  this  century,  chairs  were  the  seats 
of  the  mighty  only  ;  the  more  prosperous  households  rarely 
contained  more  than  two  or  three,  and  these  are  usually 
found  in  the  hall.  The  chair  was  a  seat  of  ease  for  rest 
after  the  day's  toil ;  it  also  had  a  certain  dignity,  and  was 
reserved  for  the  heads  of  the  house.  Stools,  forms  and  set- 
tles constituted  the  ordinary  seats.  In  1652,  the  only  seats 
in  Adam  Winthrop's  house  were  four  chairs,  a  settle-chair  and 
fourteen  stools.  Before  1  650,  the  inventories  seldom  specify 
the  kind  of  chair;  but  there  were  few  varieties.  The  value 
of  the  ordinary  chair  was  very  slight;  a  common  entry  in 
the  inventories  is  a  trifling  sum  set  down  to  "wooden 
goods  and  other  lumber,"  thus  contemptuously  dismissing 
all  the  wooden  furniture  in  the  house.  The  cheapest  kinds 
of  chairs  that  were  considered  worth  separate  appraisement 
were  eight  pence  each,  which  sum  was  a  joiner's  wages  for 
about  half  a  day.  The  prices  vary  greatly,  however.  In 
1646,  four  chairs  and  six  stools  come  to  forty  shillings; 

ito 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CARVED  OAK  CHAIR 
Owned  liy  Mr.  Walter  Husmer,  WethersfieM,  Conn. 


and  in  1652  four  small  chairs  are  six  shillings,  while  two 
chairs  and  a  child's  chair  are  five  times  as  much. 

The  child's  chair  was  very  general.  It  is  noticeable 
that  its  form  has  not  changed  to  the  present  day.  It  was 
made  of  oak,  and  several  carved  examples  of  a  child's  chair 

1  s  1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


with  solid  back,  sides  and  seat  still  exist  in  museums.  The 
more  usual  kind,  however,  had  turned  arms,  rungs  and  up- 
rights, and  was  rush-  or  sedge-bottomed.  A  bar  was  fitted 
into  holes  at  the  ends  of  the  arms  to  keep  the  child  from 
falling  out,  and  a  foot-rest  was  fitted  at  a  convenient  height 
as  in  the  modern  chairs.  William  Blanchard  (1652)  had 
a  child's  chair  which,  together  with  two  others,  evidently 
of  the  same  make  (carved  oak  probably,  considering  the 
very  high  price),  was  valued  at  ^'1-10-0.  An  example  of 
a  child's  chair  faces  this  page.  It  was  brought  from  Eng- 
land by  Richard  Mather  in  1635.  It  long  remained  in 
the  family  and  was  used  by  Increase,  Cotton,  and  Samuel 
Mather.  The  foot-rest  has  been  lost,  but  the  holes  are  still 
visible ;  the  rod  that  served  to  keep  the  child  from  falling  out 
has  also  disappeared  with  time.  The  chair  is  now  in  the 
rooms  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society  at  Worcester, 
Mass. 

The  various  kinds  mentioned  were  the  "wainscot,"  or 
oak,  chair  with  solid  sides,  seat  and  back,  sometimes  plain, 
and  sometimes  ornamented  with  carving  in  relief ;  the 
turned  chair,  with  massive  and  ugly  legs,  rungs  and  back 
bars;  "matted,"  "bass,"  "wicker,"  "joined,"  "wrought," 
Turkey-work  and  leather  chairs.  With  the  exception 
of  "wainscot,"  the  wood  is  rarely  mentioned,  although 
black  walnut  was  rapidly  growing  in  favour  as  a  substitute 
for  oak  and  was  soon  to  take  its  place. 

An  example  of  the  carved  oak  chair  has  already  been 
given  facing  page  164.  Another  without  arms,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  appears  on 
page  181. 

The  leather  chair  existed  in  several  varieties  and  was 
expensive.      The  seven  leather  chairs    in  John  Cotton's 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CARVED  OAK  CHAIR   AND  CHAIR  ORIGINALLY  COVERED   WITH  LEATHER 
From  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass 


Great  Parlour  in  1652  cost  _£t,,  which  was  also  the  value 
of  the  eight  "  red  leathered  back  chairs  and  two  low 
leather  back  stools"  standing  in  the  parlour  of  Captain 
William  Tinge  in  1653;  whereas  the  "seven  leather  and 
one  green  chair  "  in  the  hall  of  Major-General  Gibbons  in 
1654  were  worth  only  ^1.  William  Paddy  had  "eleven 
Russia  leather  chairs  in  the  hall,  at  eleven  shillings,  and  five 
others,  .£3-5-0,"  m  1658;  and  six  old  leather  chairs  be- 
longing to  John  Coggan  at  the  same  date  were  together 

183 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CANE  CHAIR   AND  CHAIR   ORIGINALLY  COVERED  WITH  LEATHER 

Both  specimens  are  owned  by  Miss  Hayes,  Cambridge,  Mass. 


valued  at  twelve  shillings.  This  John  Coggaii  was  a  mer- 
chant who  in  1633  opened  the  first  shop  in  Boston.  In 
1659,  Jacob  Sheafe's  estate  included  twelve  red  leather 
chairs,  ^"5.  The  leather  chair  was  therefore  worth  from 
two  to  thirteen  shillings,  and  was  found  only  in  the  best 
houses.    The  above  gentlemen  were  all  wealthy  Bostonians. 

The  leather  chairs  were  made  high  and  low,  with  and 
without  arms.  The  high  one  in  its  simplest  form  was 
what  is  now  commonly  known  as  the  Venetian  chair,  and 
was  very  general  throughout  Western  Europe  in  the  late 
Elizabethan  and  Jacobean  periods.     It  had  a  square  frame 

184 


RUSH-BOTTOMED  CHAIR 

Originally  owned  by  Philip  Reed  (169S)  ;  no-rv  in  the  Antiquarian  Society,  Concord,  Mass. 

See  page  187. 


.    THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  was  slightly  carved  on  the  front  feet,  projecting  ends 
of  the  arms,  and  tops  of  the  back  supports  on  which  the 
leather  was  fastened  with  brass  studs.  The  top  of  the  back 
usually  rose  in  a  curved  peak  and  the  arms  were  slightly 
curved  and  ended  in  a  scroll.  The  leather  back  did  not 
come  all  the  way  down  to  the  seat.  The  seat  was  also 
covered  with  leather  fastened  down  with  studs.  The  arms 
of  the  owner  were  often  stamped  upon  the  centre  of  the 
leather  back.  The  low  leather  chair  was  still  simpler, 
with  square  frame,  the  leather  leaving  the  lower  part  of  the 
back  open.  More  elaborate  specimens,  such  as  the  Spanish 
chairs  made  of  chestnut,  had  dark  brown  leather  stamped 
with  scrolls,  birds,  animals  and  rloral  designs.  The  frame- 
work was  carved  with  leafwork  and  scrolls,  similar  to  the 
cane-backed  walnut  chair,  which  it  closely  resembled. 

This  style  of  chair  has  already  been  fully  illustrated  in 
Parts  I.  and  II.  Two  additional  examples  may  be  seen 
on  pages  183  and  184.  These  were  low  leather  chairs, 
although  now  upholstered  with  modern  materials :  that  on 
page  183,  with  a  carved  oak  front  bar,  is  now  in  the  home 
of  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass.  The  second  one 
on  page  1 84  is  of  somewhat  later  date  and  is  owned  bv 
Miss  Hayes,  in  Cambridge,  Mass. 

The  wicker  chair  of  woven  willow  and  other  pliant 
twigs  occurs  quite  early.  It  was  cushioned  and  luxurious, 
and  worth  as  much  as  a  good  leather  chair.  In  1652, 
John  Cotton's  wicker  chair  was  set  down  at  six  shillings 
and  eight  pence, — eight  pence  more  than  his  four  bass 
chairs.  Four  shillings  was  the  sum  credited  to  another 
belonging  to  William  Paddy  six  years  later.  In  Henry 
Webb's  bedroom  (1660)  was  a  wicker  chair  and  cushion, 
,£0-5-0.     In  1646,  Christopher  Stanley  had  "one  Cabbin 

i85 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


RUSH-BOTTOM   AND  CANE  CHAIRS 

The  central  one  transformed  into  a  rocking  chair.  Owned  by  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society, 
Hartford,  Conn. 


and  one  wicker  chair,  ^i-io-o," — an  exceedingly  high 
price. 

The  bass-bottomed  chair  was  worth  from  one  to  two, 
the  "mat"  chair  from  two  to  three,  and  the  joined  chair 
from  four  to  rive  shillings.  The  value  of  the  "sedge" 
chair  was  about  eighteen  pence.  Rush-,  reed-  and  sedge- 
bottomed  chairs  were  very  plentiful  and  popular. 

The  rush-bottomed  chair  was  often  painted  green,  the 
fashion  having  been  brought  in  by  the  English  settlers  from 
Leyden.  In  North  Holland  this  "green"  chair  was  uni- 
versally used  during  the  seventeenth  century,  and  the  name 
frequently  occurs  in  the  New  England  inventories.  Another 
green  chair  often  mentioned,  however,  is  of  quite  a  different 
nature  and  far  more  costly. 

Examples  of  rush-bottomed  chairs  are  shown  facing 

186 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


RUSH-BOTTOM,  TURNED  AND  CANE  CHAIRS 
Owned  by  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  Hartford,  Conn. 

page  184  and  on  pages  186  and  187.  The  one  facing  page 
184  originally  belonged  to  Philip  Reed  (1698)  and  is  now 
in  the  Antiquarian  Society,  Concord,  Mass.  It  is  an  early 
example  of  the  "wing  chair."  The  back  and  sides  are 
covered  with  a  gay  flowered  cretonne.  The  rush-bottomed 
chair  with  back  of  slats  painted  black,  on  this  page,  be- 
longed to  the  Stanley  family  of  Connecticut  and  is  now 
owned  by  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  Hartford, 
Conn.  The  central  chair  on  this  page  is  an  oak  turned 
chair  of  the  seventeenth  century,  clumsy  and  heavy;  to  the 
right  of  this  is  a  cane  chair  that  came  from  the  Wyllys 
home,  Charter  Oak.  It  is  interesting  to  compare  this  with 
one  of  Penn's  chairs  on  page  85.  These  specimens  are  in 
the  possession  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  which  also  owns  the  pieces  represented  on  page 
186.     The  one  in  the  centre  is  an  old  chair.     It  has  been 

187 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


transformed  into  a  rocking  chair  in  the  rudest  manner  and 
feeble  arms  painted  black  have  been  added.  The  chair  to 
its  right  has  four  splats  rounded  at  the  back  and  cut  flat  in 
front.  The  third  chair  is  rush-bottomed  with  split  balus- 
ters in  the  back. 


CANK  CHAIRS 
Owned  by  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  Worcester,  Mass. 


The  three  chairs  from  the  American  Antiquarian  So- 
ciety, Worcester,  Mass.,  are  also  typical  forms  of  this  period. 

In  some  of  the  wealthier  houses,  the  severe  form  of 
chair  that  had  to  be  made  really  comfortable  with  a  cushion 
was  supplemented  by  another  kind  that  made  its  way  into 
England  from  Venice.  The  chairs  were  upholstered  on 
the  arms,  seat  and  back,  and  the  legs  were  made  in  the 

188 


tup:  furniturk  of  our  forefathers 


shape  of  a  curved  X.  Many  examples  of  this  style  of  chair 
are  to  be  seen  in  the  seventeenth-century  pictures.  The 
chairs  were  accompanied  with  stools  and  often  with  foot- 
stools, also  supported  by  the  curved  X  legs,  and  with  stuffed 
seats.  Two  armchairs  and  six  stools  made  up  the  set,  and 
an  upholstered  sofa,  or  couch,  often  went  with  it.  These 
werecertainly  brought  into  New  England  before  1650,  and 
the  favourite  colours  in  which  the  pieces  were  upholstered 
were  red,  green  and  blue.  Captain  William  Tinge  (1653) 
had  in  his  hall  "one  great  green  chair,  six  high  back  chairs 
and  two  low  back  chairs,  and  one  old  green  elbo  chair  all 
cased,  £6";  and  "one  green  couch  laid  with  a  case, 
^2-10-0."  In  another  room  there  was  "a  great  cushion 
for  a  couch,  £1."  These  high  prices  show  that  the  arti- 
cles belonged  to  the  class  of  sumptuous  furniture.  An  in- 
teresting example  of  a  couch  of  cane,  with  an  armchair 
the  seat  of  which  should  be  cane  like  the  back,  appears  on 
page  190.  These  pieces  originally  belonged  to  the 
Bulkeley  family  and  are  owned  by  the  Antiquarian  Society, 
Concord,  Mass.  The  hall  of  Major-General  Gibbons 
(1654)  contained  one  green  and  seven  leather  chairs  valued 
at  £1.  Velvet  and  damask  were  the  materials  used  in 
upholstering  these  chairs.  William  Paine  (1660)  had 
four  red  stools  and  two  red  cloth  chairs  with  fringe. 
Major-General  Gibbons  possessed  ten  yellow  damask  chairs 
which,  although  old,  were  worth  ^4-10-0.  In  the  inven- 
tory of  the  late  Comfort  Starr  of  Boston  (1659)  a  "great 
damask  chair"  also  occurs.  The  hall  chamber  of  Henry 
Webb  (1660)  contained  "seven  green  chairs  and  stools, 
four  with  fringes  and  three  with  galloone,  ^3-10-0;"  and 
twelve  leather  chairs,  six  low  and  six  high,  ^4-4-0.  These 
"green"  chairs  were  therefore  in  the  same  class  with  the 

189 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CANE   COUCH   AND  ARMCHAIR 
Owned  by  the  Bulkeley  family,  now  by  the  Antiquarian  Society,  Concord,  Mass. 


finest  Russia-leather  chairs  of  the  day  and  must  not  be 
confounded  with  the   Dutch  green  rush-bottomed  chairs. 

The  Turkey-work  chair  was  also  in  use  before  1650. 
It  was  equal  in  value  to  the  best  leather  chair.  In  1658, 
William  Paddy  had  two,  valued  at  sixteen  shillings  each; 
but  it  became  cheaper  before  long.  Its  bright-coloured 
worsted  designs  made  it  very  popular  and,  as  chairs  came 
into  common  use  during  the  second  half  of  the  century,  it 
was  found  in  almost  every  household. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  stools  which  accompanied  the 
chairs  sometimes  had  cross  legs,  curved  or  straight,  and 
padded  seats  covered  with  the  same  material  as  the  chairs. 
The  edges  were  usually  fringed. 

The  buffet  (not  tuffet),  the  seat  occupied  by  Little  Miss 
Muffet  of  nursery-rhyme  fame,  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


other  buffet  (spelt  beaufait  and  beauritt  in  the  inventories 
on  its  appearance  late  in  the  century)  and  must  be  carefully 
distinguished  from  it.  In  1 6 1  i  Cotgrave  had  defined  the 
French  word  scabeau  as  a  "burfit  or  joined  stool  to  sit  on." 
In  Skinner's  Etymologicon  (1671)  it  is  described  as  "a  light 
seat  without  arms  or  back,  indeed  it  may  easily  supply  the 
place  of  a  table."  It  usually  had  four  turned  legs  with  con- 
necting stretchers  close  to  the  ground,  and  thus  resembled 
a  miniature  table. 

Governor  Thomas  Dudley's  parlour  chamber  (1653) 
contained  "a  chair  and  two  buffet  stools  and  cover  for  chair, 
seventeen  shillings;  two  green  buffet  stools,  a  livery  cup- 
board and  cloth,  fourteen  shillings."  Other  stools  were  the 
joint  stools,  and  low  and  high  stools.  These  had  three  or 
four  legs,  and  were  often  made  comfortable  with  cushions. 
Dudley's  parlour  contained  "six  joine  stools,  three  chairs 
and  ten  cushions." 

John  Cotton  (1652)  had  26  chairs,  including  a  little 
table  chair,  about  30  stools,  6  forms,  and  a  couch.  Cap- 
tain Tinge's  seats  consisted  of  one  form,  one  couch,  1 8 
chairs  and  20  stools.  The  latter  were  in  considerable  variety, 
consisting  of  4  back  stools,  4  low  stools,  2  low  stools  with 
blue  covers,  2  low  stools  with  leather  backs,  6  high  Tur- 
key-work stools,  and  2  low  leather  stools.  Thus  stools 
were  upholstered  with  the  same  material  as  chairs,  and  the 
addition  of  backs  makes  it  hard  to  draw  a  sharp  line  be- 
tween stools  and  chairs. 

The  foot-stool  is  seldom  mentioned :  Thomas  Thatcher 
has  a  cricket  in  1686. 

During  the  second  half  of  the  century,  chairs  became 
much  more  plentiful,  and  a  prosperous  home  contained  a 
great  variety  while  the  stools  gradually  diminished  in  num- 

I9I 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ber.  In  1656,  the  wealthy  Robert  Keayne  had  only 
halt  a  dozen  chairs  in  the  house,  the  other  seats  being 
stools  and  forms.  Henry  Shrimpton  (1666)  owned  forty- 
two  chairs  and  twenty-four  stools.  Antipas  Boyse  (1669) 
had  forty-seven  chairs  and  twenty-one  stools.  The  varie- 
ties in  these  two  houses  included  leather  work  with  backs, 
low  leather,  Turkey-work,  arm,  wicker,  low  green,  turned, 
low,  child's,  and  matted  high  chairs;  forty-two  of  the  eighty- 
nine  being  some  form  of  leather.  The  stools  were  joint, 
leather,  wrought,  and  "cushion."  In  1672,  William  Whit- 
tingham  possessed  forty-two  chairs  and  but  two  wrought 
stools.  These  included  fourteen  Turkey-work,  eight  Russia 
leather,  six  calves'  leather,  one  child's  high,  large  arm,  six 
low  chairs  with  covers  and  silk  fringes  and  "six  covered 
with  bayes."  Richard  Bellingham's  stools  were  six  and  his 
chairs  twenty-six  in  number  in  the  same  year.  Among 
them  were  eight  turned  chairs  with  sedge  bottoms  and  two 
cushions. 

In  i  675,  Captain  Scarlet  had  6  Turkey-work,  2  wicker, 
I  great  wicker,  3  blue,  6  red,  6  high  leather,  and  10  red 
damask  chairs.  No  stools  are  mentioned  in  his  house,  nor 
in  those  of  John  Freack  (1675)  and  Nathan  Raynsford 
(1676)  who  possessed  forty-five  and  twenty-five  chairs 
respectively. 

In  1677,  Hanna  Douglas  has  seven  serge  and  four  small 
green  chairs,  and  Hope  Allen  has  a  large  and  a  small  green 
chair  and  two  green  stools,  worth  ^1-3-0. 

No  stools  are  in  the  inventory  of  Humphrey  Warren 
(1680),  nor  of  Jeremiah  dishing  (1681):  their  chairs 
numbered  sixty-three  and  fifty-one.  John  Wensley  (1686) 
owned  sixty-two  chairs  and  six  stools;  Captain  Thomas 
Berry  ( 1697)  fifty  chairs  and  one  stool;  and  Robert  Brons- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


den  (1702),  sixty-nine  chairs.  The  chairs  and  stools 
upholstered  in  red,  green  and  blue  are  found  in  the  best 
houses  until  the  end  of  the  century.  In  1691  Dr.  Jonathan 
Avery  has  "two  red  buffet  stools  wrought,"  twelve  shil- 


CARVED  OAK  CHAIR    FROM    NOVA  SCOTIA  AND  CHAIR    (CANE  AND 
OAK)  FROM  THE  WYLLYS  HOME 
Both  specimens  are  owned  by  Mrs.  Wainwright,  Hartford,  Conn.     See  page  194. 


lings;  and  four  green  ones,  sixteen  shillings.  The  cheaper 
"green"  chair  also  lingers:  John  White  (1690)  has  "Six 
green  flag  bottom  chairs,"  nine  shillings.  The  material 
with  which  the  seats  were  upholstered  was  often  hand- 
worked: John  Clarke  (1691)  had  rive  needlework  chairs 
worth  five  shillings  each.  There  was  more  than  one  variety 

193 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  the  Turkey-work  chair.  Besides  a  cushioned  armchair 
in  Robert  Bronsden's  hall  (1702),  there  were  "six  Turkey- 
work  chairs,"  best  sort,  ^"3,  and  twelve  ditto,  worst  sort, 
^3-12-0.  A  very  handsome  carved  oak  chair,  the  seat  of 
which  was  originally  cane  like  the  back,  was  brought  by 
Bishop  W ainwright  from  Nova  Scotia.  This  is  owned  by 
Mrs.  Wainwright,  Hartford,  Conn.  On  the  same  plate  is 
a  cane  chair  of  the  period.  This  belonged  to  the  Wyllys 
family,  at  Charter  Oak,  and  is  also  owned  by  Mrs. 
Wainwright.  A  similar  chair  from  Charter  Oak,  be- 
longing to  the  same  set,  appears  on  page  187.  The  cane 
of  these  is  particularly  fine  and  -gives  a  handsome  effect. 

The  chair  towards  the  end  of  the  century  is  losing  its 
rigid  lines  and  submitting  to  the  curves,  sometimes  gro- 
tesque, of  the  Dutch  cabinet-makers.  The  turned  legs  with 
"Spanish  feet,"  sometimes  straight  and  sometimes  scrolled, 
gradually  develop  well-defined  knees  and  become  cabriole 
legs  with  hoof  and  similar  feet,  at  the  same  time  dispensing 
with  the  curved  front  rail  and  turned  straining-rails.  The 
cane  frame  of  the  back  is  first  divided  in  half  by  a  central 
vertical  bar,  then  the  cane  on  either  side  disappears,  leaving 
the  splat,  which  is  then  rendered  ornamental  by  cutting  it 
into  various  forms.  A  glance  at  page  184  and  page  186 
will  show  this  development.  Presently  the  jar  shape  splat 
becomes  the  favourite ;  this  is  then  pierced  and  carved, 
gradually  following  much  the  same  course  as  Gothic  win- 
dow tracery.  Meantime,  the  carved  top  sinks  into  simple 
curves  that  also  develop  into  more  elegant  forms  of  the 
bow  shape.  The  French  Renaissance  is  rapidly  making  its 
influence  felt  in  the  second  half  of  the  century,  and  the 
Dutch  are  applying  the  squat  forms  they  receive  from  the 
Orient.     The  carved  oak  period  has  passed  and  the  cabriole 

194 


SETTLE  WITH  FOLDING  CANDLESTAND 

From  the  Talcott  House.     Owned  by  Mrs.  Wain-xurigbt,  Hartford,  Conn. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


leg,  bombe  shapes,  and  hoof  and  ball-and-claw  feet  are 
obtainable  by  those  who  like  the  new  style.  It  is  difficult 
to  trace  its  coming  in  default  of  contemporary  notice,  but 
the  change  was  by  no  means  violent  or  sudden.  A  book 
had  been  published  as  early  as  1550,  by  Jacques  Androuet, 
in  which  there  was  a  good  deal  of  what  we  now  call 
Pompeian  design,  although  it  did  not  become  fashionable 
till  the  discovery  of  the  buried  city  nearly  two  centuries 
later.  In  Androuet's  book  we  also  find  a  good  deal  of 
what  is  now  styled  "  Louis  Quatorze."  Moreover,  the  leg 
of  a  table  or  a  chair  ending  in  an  eagle's  or  dog's  claw,  and 
ornamented  at  the  top  with  a  low-relief  acanthus  leaf,  is 
there  exactly.  Androuet  also  uses  for  ornamentation  what 
Chippendale  called  "  terms."  Attention  to  these  facts  is 
drawn  by  Heaton  in  his  Furniture  and  Decoration  in  England 
During  the  Eighteenth  Century  (London  1890—93). 

Finally  we  have  forms,  settles,  settle-chairs  and  table- 
chairs  or  chair-tables.  The  settle  with  its  high  back, 
pulled  beside  or  in  front  of  the  lire,  was  a  welcome  shield 
against  the  bitter  winter  gusts  that  penetrated  the  wooden 
walls  of  the  ordinary  house.  One  of  these,  with  folding 
candlestand,  was  long  in  the  Talcott  house,  Hartford. 
This  is  shown  facing  page  194.  It  is  owned  by  Mrs. 
Wainwright,  Hartford,  Conn.  The  settle  was  frequently 
carved  and  sometimes  had  a  well,  or  a  drawer,  in  the  seat. 
Cushions  often  added  to  its  comfort.  A  small  settle  was 
worth  six  shillings  in  1652.  A  settle  with  drawers  was 
appraised  at  one  pound  on  the  death  of  Thomas  Scottow 
in  1  66 1.  Occasionally  a  "  settle  chair  "  is  mentioned.  The 
small  settle  was  sometimes  a  combination  table  and  settle, 
the  back  turning  on  a  pin  and  forming  the  table-top,  like 
the  chair-table  which  was  found  in  many  houses  (see  page 

•95 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


159).  William  Ludkin  possessed  an  old  chair-table  valued 
at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  in  1652.  In  1658,  John 
Coggan  had  in  his  parlour  "  two  table  chairs,  eight  shil- 
lings "  ;  and  Francis  Chickering  of  Dedham  in  the  same 
year  had  a  chair  table,  £2  ;  so  that  the  value  of  this  ar- 
ticle of  furniture  varies  surprisingly,  the  difference  being 
doubtless  due  to  carved  or  inlaid  ornamentation.  A  valu- 
able settee  (£2)  is  found  among  the  household  goods  of 
William  Bartlett  of  Hartford,  in  1658.  A  fine  Turkey- 
work  settee  of  this  period  faces  page  198.  This  was 
brought  to  Salem  from  Normandy  by  a  Huguenot  family 
about  1686.  It  is  owned  by  the  heirs  of  John  Appleton 
and  is  now  in  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.  The 
frame  is  oak  and  the  colours  of  the  Turkey-work  are  rose, 
blue,  buff  and  light  brown,  curiously  mixed  with  green, 
magenta  and  black. 

Twenty  years  ago  the  average  house  was  severe  and 
bare  so  far  as  cushions  were  concerned  ;  a  soft  cushion  in 
a  chair  or  on  a  sofa  was  a  rarity.  The  taste  for  everything 
Oriental  has  changed  all  that,  and  hard  horsehair  has  been 
practically  banished,  but  we  have  only  returned  to  the  lik- 
ings of  our  Puritan  forefathers  after  all. 

The  stiffness  and  severity  of  the  carved  oak  furniture 
was,  as  we  have  seen,  greatly  relieved  by  cushions.  These 
are  found  in  profusion  in  all  the  comfortable  homes. 
There  were  cushions  on  the  window-seat,  on  the  chairs,  on 
the  settles,  on  the  stools,  and  even  on  the  cupboards.  They 
were  stuffed  with  down,  feathers,  flock,  cat-tails  and  any- 
thing at  hand  that  would  serve.  The  coverings  and  cases 
for  these  cushions  were  even  more  varied  than  the  filling. 
The  ordinary  cushion  was  worth  about  a  shilling,  and  in 
1666  feathers  were  worth  eleven  pence  per  pound.  Henry 

196 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Shrimpton  possessed  834  pounds  at  that  price.  It  is  there- 
fore evident  that  the  shilling  cushion  did  not  contain  feath- 
ers. John  George  of  Watertown  (1646)  had  11  cushions, 
^"i-io-o,  kind  not  specified.  Some  of  the  materials  with 
which  cushions  were  covered  appear  from  the  following  en- 
tries ;  2  Turkey-work  cushions,  1  646  ;  3  gilt  do,  ^"0-8-0, 
1650;  5  Turkey-work  do,  ^1-2-6,  1652.  Captain 
Tinge  owned  (1653)  "6  raught  window  cushions  in  the 
presse,  ^"2-0-0;  6  green  do,  ^0-18-0;  6  Turkey  do, 
^0-18-0;  a  great  cushion  for  the  couch,  £1  ;  3  pair 
window  cushions,  £,2;  1  velvet  window  do,  ^'0-12-0 ; 
and  10  old  cushions,  ^"0-16-0."  Simon  Eire  (1653)  had 
6  cushions,  -£2  ;  1  window  do,  5  pieces  of  stuff  for  1  1 
cushions  and  2  pieces  of  fringe,  ^"1-13-0.  Major-General 
Gibbons  had  3  1  cushions,  including  "  1  1  window  cushions, 
4  damask,  4  velvet,  2  leather,  1  Turkey-work,  ^1-10-0." 
Anne  Hibbins  ( 1656)  owned  a  green  say  cushion  ;  a  "  vio- 
let pinckt  cushion,  three  shillings  ;  "  a  velvet  do,  ten  shil- 
lings ;  and  a  "  wrought  cushion  with  gold,  five  shillings." 
The  material  with  which  the  cushions  were  covered  fre- 
quently matched  the  curtains  and  valance,  especially  in  the 
rich  stuffs.  The  "  carpets  "  and  "  cupboard  cloths  "  were 
sometimes  uniform  also  with  the  cushions  and  curtains. 
Needlework  on  the  material  was  highly  prized,  and  the 
ladies  found  time  for  much  work  of  that  nature.  The 
above  Anne  Hibbins  had  in  addition  to  her  cushions  :  "  a 
wrought  cupboard  cloth  or  great  cushion  cloth,  green  say 
valance,  1  green  cupboard  cloth  with  silk  fringe,  1  green 
wrought  do  with  do  (£2),  1  wrought  valliants,  5  painted 
calico  curtains  and  valence,  1  cupboard  cloth  with  fringe, 
and  1  wrought  Holland  cupboard  cloth."  Bridget  Busby 
(1660)  had  8  cushions,  and  2  needlework  cushions  worth 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


twice  as  much  as  all  the  others  together.  She  also  owned 
one  wrought  tester  valued  at  ^2-4-0.  This  sum  was 
more  than  the  total  of  the  furniture  of  her  room,  which 
consisted  of  a  table  and  form,  a  round  table,  two  chairs,  a 
stool,  two  covered  stools,  six  pictures,  a  great  chest,  and- 
irons, and  "  some  odd  trifles  over  the  door."  Among 
Henry  Webb's  twenty-seven  cushions,  we  note  six  green 
cushions  mixed  with  yellow,  velvet  do,  fringed  and 
wrought  do  ;  and  "  six  needlework  cushions  wrought,  four 
drawn  to  work,  and  muskada  ends,  etc.,  /io."  The  value 
of  the  last  item  is  almost  incredibly  high.  Leonard  Hoar 
had  five  hair  cushions  in  1675.  • 

Tables  in  New  England  before  1650  may  be  disposed 
of  in  a  few  words.  The  "table  and  tressells"  of  Joseph 
Weld,  of  Roxbury,  was  worth  three  shillings  and  six  pence. 
Ten  shillings  was  sufficient  to  buy  the  "  plank  table  and 
another  small  one"  in  the  hall  of  Thomas  Lamb  of  the 
same  town ;  in  his  parlour  was  a  "  framed  table  and  one 
joyned  stool,  ^0-13-4."  Another  fellow-townsman,  John 
Scarbarrow,  who  died  the  same  year  (1646),  owned  a 
"table  and  form,  ^0-14-0;"  and  John  George,  of  Water- 
town  (also  1646)  had  three  tables  valued  at  fifteen  shillings. 
The  tables  in  the  hall  of  Alice  Jones,  of  Dorchester  ( 1  642), 
were  "a  great  table  bord  and  form"  and  a  "short  table- 
board"  worth  fourteen  and  two  shillings  respectively.  The 
above  were  the  simplest  kinds  of  table. 

Tables  had  been  used  hitherto  as  a  word  to  signify  writing- 
tablets.  A  familiar  instance  of  this  use  is  Hamlet's  cry,  "  My 
tables,  my  tables, — meet  it  is  I  set  it  down."  Board  was  the 
familiar  name  for  the  table  and  it  lingered  in  New  Eng- 
land, as  in  the  above  examples,  after  it  had  almost  disap- 
peared in  the  old  country.     The  Elizabethan  tables  were 

198 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


generally  boards  hinged  in  the  middle  for  convenience  of 
setting  aside  when  not  in  use.  These  boards  were  sup- 
ported by  trestles.  Trestle  is  the  same  as  "  threstule,"  the  three- 
legged  stand  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was  the  single  seat  for 
all  but  the  heads  of  the  household.  It  was  sometimes 
carved.  The  permanent  was  the  "framed"  table,  the  legs 
of  which  were  connected  by  stretchers  close  to  the  floor. 
The  early  table,  or  board,  was  about  thirty  inches  wide,  and 
the  old  custom  of  sitting  only  on  one  side  was  still  kept  up 
in  many  houses.  The  "table  and  form"  makes  this  evi- 
dent. During  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Martyr,  broader 
tables  came  into  use,  and  the  great  stationary  "folding" 
and  drawing-tables  also  made  their  appearance  in  many 
homes.  The  folding-table  had  from  twelve  to  twenty 
legs,  leaves  being  added  on  legs  that  drew  out  from  the 
ends  and  sides,  as  in  a  modern  folding  table.  The  draw, 
or  drawing,  table  was  made  of  solid  oak ;  it  was  very  mas- 
sive, the  legs  having  the  enormous  acorn-shaped  Dutch 
ornament.  It  was  inlaid  with  pear  wood  in  geometrical 
designs,  stained  black  (see  page  63).  A  handsome  table 
of  this  kind  is  owned  by  Dr.  James  Read  Chadwick,  of 
Boston,  Mass.  It  is  70  inches  long,  30  inches  high  and  32 
inches  broad.  The  extensions  that  draw  out  from  under- 
neath are  the  same  width  as  the  table  and  31  inches  in 
length.  In  Captain  Tinge's  parlour  (1653)  was  "one  draw- 
ing table,  £2  ;  "  and  in  his  hall  were  "  two  tables  one  form, 
£2"  These  tables  therefore  were  quite  expensive.  Gover- 
nor Dudley's  parlour  (1653)  contained  a  "table  and  frame 
and  6  joine  stools  and  a  carpet,  ^5-4-0  ";  but  this  exceeding- 
ly high  valuation  may  have  been  due  to  the  "  carpet."  There 
were  other  tables  of  smaller  size,  both  square  and  round ;  an 
example  even  of  an  octagonal  table,  dated  1606,  belongs  to 

199 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  Carpenters'  Company  in  London.  A  little  leaf  table, 
^o-8-o,  was  in  Simon  Eire's  inner  hall  (1658).  Jacob 
Elliott  and  Grace  Brown  ( 165  1 )  both  had  round  tables;  and 
John  Cotton  (1652)  a  small  square  one;  he  had  eleven 
tables  in  his  house. 

Small  square,  round,  and  oval  tables  became  much  more 


OVAL   TABLE   OF  OAK. 
In  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass.     See  page  202. 


numerous  in  the  second  half  of  the  century.  The  round 
table  varied  greatly  in  value,  showing  that  it  was  made  of 
many  woods  and  in  several  sizes.  In  1660,  one  cost  four 
shillings,  and  another  three  pounds.  Antipas  Boyse  (1669) 
had  a  small  table  with  drawers,  six  shillings.  In  1670, 
William  Wardell's  round  table  with  one  drawer  was  worth 
fifteen  shillings.     The  "long"  and  the  "drawing"  table 

200 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


were  constantly  found.  Besides  oak,  walnut  and  cedar 
were  the  usual  woods.  In  1669,  a  long  cedar  table  is 
appraised  at  ^1-15-0,  and  in  1672,  a  square  walnut  ditto 
at  fi.  A  cedar  table  costs  ^i,  and  fifteen  shillings  is  the 
value  of  another  of  "Burmodos"  cedar  in  1680.  The 
Spanish  table  was  in  great  favour  in  this  second  period :  in 


OVAL  TABLE 

Owned  by  Mrs.  John  Marshall  Holcombe,  Hartford,  Conn.     See  page  202. 


1676,  we  rind  one  at  twelve  shillings,  and  in  1679,  two  for 
sixteen  shillings.  The  side  table  appears  early  in  the  sec- 
ond half  of  the  century.  It  was  not  always  an  additional 
table  in  the  dining-room,  but  often  a  small  bedroom  table. 
Robert  Gibbs's  Great  Chamber  contained  four.  In  Humphrey 
Warren's  Red  Chamber  (1680)  there  was  a  side  table,  and 
his  Hall  Chamber  also  contained  a  small  one.  These  three 
chambers  were  bedrooms.  The  dining-room  contained  four 


201 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

small  square  tables  and  carpets, — a  departure  from  the  usual 
custom  of  the  big  table.  It  would  seem  that  it  was  now 
the  fashion  to  have  several  small  instead  of  one  great  table. 
There  were  two  in  the  hall  and  three  in  the  dining-room 
of  Sir  William  Phipps.  The  sideboard  table  is  also  found 
about  this  time  as  an  adjunct  to  the  great  table.  In  1683, 
John  Winslow's  hall  contains  a  square  table  and  a  sideboard 
table  of  red  cedar.  The  oval  table  becomes  more  frequent 
towards  the  end  of  the  century.  Captain  Thomas  Berry- 
owns  three  in  1697,  one  at  seven  shillings  and  two  worth 
^"1-15-0.  An  oval  table  of  oak,  of  rough  work,  faces 
page  182.  It  has  falling  leaves,  the  legs  are  strength- 
ened by  tenons,  and  the  pegs  that  hold  it  together  are 
wooden.  The  design  is  now  popularly  called  the  "but- 
terfly table."     The  piece  is  in  the  Wayside  Inn,  Sudbury. 

Throughout  the  Stuart  period  there  were  two  kinds  of 
oval  tables.  They  were  of  the  "  falling"  variety,  having  leaves 
that  could  be  let  down  so  that  the  table  should  take  up 
little  room  when  standing  against  the  wall.  The  legs  were 
almost  invariably  turned  in  spirals  or  beads  and  had  con- 
necting stretchers.  Sometimes  the  side  legs  pulled  out  as 
supports,  and  at  other  times  the  leaves  had  simple  bracket 
supports.  Examples  of  each  kind  may  be  seen  on  pages 
200  and  201.  These  are  sometimes  called  to-day  "thou- 
sand-legged" tables.  (See  also  page  11.)  Besides  oak, 
pine  and  black  walnut,  the  oval  table  sometimes  occurs 
in  cedar. 

Beds  were  the  most  important  articles  of  f  urniture  in  the 
early  homes ;  they  were  decorative  and  luxurious.  The 
great  post  bedstead,  with  the  trundle  bed  below  that  pulled 
out  on  rollers,  was  found  in  innumerable  homes.  The 
trundle,  or  truckle,  bed  in  baronial  days  was  a  couch  of  little 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


honour,  being  occupied  by  a  personal  attendant  tor  protec- 
tion.    It  was  a  servile  resting-place: 

"  He  that  is  beaten  may  be  said 
To  lie  in  Honour  s  truckle  bed." 

The  children  doubtless  slept  in  it  in  New  England. 

These  great  beds,  with  their  posts  carved  and  swelling 
into  acorn-shaped  masses  of  ornamentation,  are  no  longer 
to  be  found  in  this  country;  if  a  single  specimen  has 
escaped  destruction,  it  has  escaped  the  writer's  search.  An 
illustration,  however,  appears  as  the  frontispiece  of  Part  I. 
The  modern  taste  for  hard  bedding  would  have  amazed 
our  forefathers,  who  would  have  stuffed  their  ticking  with 
sunset  cloudlets  if  they  could  have  procured  them.  As  it  was, 
they  had  to  be  contented  with  down,  feathers,  fur,  flock, 
hair,  silk  grass,  cat-tails  and  straw.  The  long  bolster  and 
two  pillows  to  each  bed  were  filled  with  the  same  and  cased 
with  fair  linen.  Sheets  of  canvas,  Holland  and  other  linen 
were  added  and  then  came  blankets,  rugs  and  quilts  galore. 
From  rods  under  the  head,  curtains  hung  generally  by 
hooks;  but  rings  also  were  used,  since  one  entry  reads  "9 
dozen  curtain  rings,  four  shillings  and  six  pence." 

The  value  of  the  wooden  framework  of  the  bed  was 
always  a  very  small  proportion  of  that  of  the  whole,  as  is 
clear  from  an  early  example — that  of  Joseph  Miriam  of 
Concord  (1640).  He  had  three  bedsteads,  fifteen  shillings; 
1  feather  and  6  flock  beds,  ^'2-10-0;  2  pairs  of  curtains, 
^4-10-0;  and  a  pair  of  linen  curtains,  _£i.  Again,  Edward 
Wood  of  Charlestown  had  a  bed  with  curtain,  valance  and 
rods,  ^5-15-0;  a  truckle  bed,  one  crown.  Thomas  Cort- 
more  of  the  same  town  (1645)  owned  a  "bedstead  with 
trundle  bedstead,  matts  and  cord,  ^1-10-0."  For  this,  he 
had  down  bedding  worth  twice  as  much.     The  hangings, 

203 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


which  matched  the  window  curtains,  consisted  of  one  pair 
of  striped  silk  curtains  and  valance,  which,  with  rive  window 
curtains  and  rive  window,  cupboard  and  chimney  cloths, 
amounted  to  ^5.  His  bed  coverings  included  one  silk  red 
and  blue  quilt,  ^1-6-0;  one  red  and  green  silk  do,  £2- 
1  0-0 ;  and  one  tapestry  coverlet,  £1-6-0.  Such  elegance 
may  be  considered  somewhat  excessive  tor  a  "  lodge  in  some 
vast  wilderness,"  but  it  is  perfectly  evident  that  the  wealthy 
settlers  carried  their  luxury  with  them  into  the  virgin 
woods,  just  as  the  Romans  did  into  their  barbarian  conquests. 
Mr.  Cortmore  is  by  no  means  an  exceptional  case.  Mary 
Hudson's  beds  (1651)  further  show  the  relative  value  of 
bedstead  and  hangings:  two  standing  and  one  trundle  bed- 
stead, ^"1-10-0;  one  pair  of  say  curtains  and  valance,  £1- 
5-0;  one  pair  of  striped  ditto,  ^1-0-0;  one  "tapstree" 
covering,  3-0-0.  Joseph  Weld's  "  darnell  "  coverlet,  jCi  ; 
and  two  little  old  yellow  blankets,  ^2-16-0,  are  also 
astonishingly  large  sums  in  comparison  with  the  contem- 
porary value  of  the  best  chairs,  tables  and  "  cupboards." 
Robert  Turner's  two  bedsteads  and  iron  rods,  ^2-5-0,  with 
two  trundle  bedsteads,  ^0-6-8,  also  look  small  beside  his 
pair  of  curtains  and  valance,  ^2-15-0,  and  one  rlock  and 
three  feather  beds  and  bedding,  ^15.  The  rugs,  blankets 
and  coverlids  were  as  valuable  and  choice  as  the  hangings. 
An  East  Indian  quilt  costs  ^'1-10-0,  and  a  silk  shag  rug, 
^3,  which  was  also  the  value  of  two  home-made  coverlids. 
Richard  Lord  of  Hartford  at  the  close  of  the  century  had 
a  silk  cradle  quilt,  two  silk  striped  blankets,  and  three  other 
blankets  of  white  silk,  watered  silk,  and  double  satin. 
Henry  Webb's  bedstead  and  bedding,  with  green  curtains, 
green  rug  and  coverlid  with  lace  and  fringe,  was  estimated 
at  ^24  in  1660;  probably  these  were  the  richest  materials 


204 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


employed.  In  the  same  year,  Martha  Coggan  had  a  suit 
of  East  India  curtains,  jTy ;  a  blue  calico  quilt,  /i-io-o; 
a  pair  of  purple  curtains  and  valance,  J^y ;  and  blue  ditto, 
^"2-10-0.  Samuel  Maverick's  suit  of  blue  serge  curtains 
(1664)  came  to  ^4.  Other  curtains  mentioned  are  linsey- 
wolsey  (which  were  about  three  shillings  a  pair),  linen 
"green,"  "blue,"  yellow  damask,  "striped,"  "red,"  red 
bay,  green  say,  and  shalloon  (twelve  shillings).  In  1658, 
a  new  suit  of  watchet  serge  curtains  and  valance  cost  _£6  ; 
and  a  pair  of  silk  ditto,  ^3.  Hangings  of  gilt  leather  are 
also  found  in  some  houses.  Screens  are  also  very  common 
as  an  additional  protection  against  draughts,  and  in  some 
cases  portieres  were  used.  Captain  Berry,  in  1697,  had  "a 
curtain  and  rod  for  a  skreen,  fifteen  shillings."  The  screens 
were  made  of  leather,  painted  canvas  and  painted  buckram. 
They  had  two,  three  and  four  leaves.  In  1654,  we  rind 
"six  pieces  of  painted  buckram,  ^3." 

The  home-made  coverlid  (from  the  French  convre 
lit\  mentioned  above  may  have  been  woven,  instead  of 
being  made  by  one  of  the  many  processes  of  skilled  needle- 
work, for  spinning-wheels  were  found  in  the  great  majority 
of  homes,  and  the  loom  also  often  occurs.  Twelve  shillings 
was  the  value  of  the  loom  in  Joseph  Weld's  study  in  1646. 
In  1640,  English  mohair  cost  three  shillings  per  yard, 
and  green  serge  four  pence  more.  Painted  calicoes  and 
other  products  of  Eastern  looms  became  popular  later  in 
the  century.  "  Cheney  "  was  then  worth  about  two 
shillings  per  yard. 

The  cupboard  was  originally  exactly  what  the  name 
implies, — a  board  on  which  cups  were  displayed.  The 
cups  and  other  vessels  used  at  table  were  of  pewter  and 
silver  ;  and  silver  plate  in  respectable  quantity  was  found 

205 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  every  home  of  moderate  or  ample  means.  The  "salt" 
was  often  an  imposing  piece  of  plate.  George  Phillips 
(1644),  whose  estate  amounted  to  553,  owned  "a  silver 
salt  with  spoons,  ^4."  Thomas  Cortmore  of  Charles- 
town  (1645)  owned  106  ounces  of  plate,  ^23-1  7-0.  Silver 
plate  at  that  date  therefore  was  worth  four  shillings  and 
six  pence  an  ounce,  and  George  Phillips's  salt  and  spoons 
must  have  weighed  about  eighteen  ounces.  John  Holland 
(1652)  had  six  pounds'  worth  of  plate,  and  in  the  same 
year  Adam  Winthrop's  consisted  of  a  silver  tankard,  ^5  ; 
a  beer  bowl,  two  wine  bowls  and  a  caudle  cup,  £j  ;  two 
silver  sugar  dishes,  ^2-10-0  ;  a  little  silver  salt  and  a  dram 
cup,  sixteen  shillings;  and  twelve  silver  spoons,  ^3.  He 
also  had  a  stone  jug  tipped  with  silver,  ^1  ;  and  a  toast- 
ing iron  tipped  with  silver,  ten  shillings.  Governor  Dud- 
ley's 8o3^  ounces  of  plate  was  valued  at  five  shillings  and  two 
pence  per  ounce  in  165^, and  Jacob  Sheafe's  1  18  ounces  at 
five  shillings  in  1659;  thus  the  price  varied  with  the 
years.  Adam  Winthrop's  twelve  spoons  were  probably 
what  are  still  so  highly  prized  as  "Apostles'  Spoons."  In 
1656,  Anne  Hibbins  had  "four  silver  spoons,  one  with  a 
gilt  head,  a  great  silver  porringer,  a  silver  tankard,  and  two 
silver  wine  bowls  that  weighed  ^9  oz.  at  five  shillings,  a  gilt 
salt,  two  gilt  wine  bowls,  one  silver  beaker,  one  beer  bowl, 
two  saucers,  a  silver  salt,  four  gilt  spoons  with  ten  silver 
spoons  with  Pictures  of  Apostles  gilt  and  one  caudle  cup 
at  five  shillings  and  eight  pence  per  oz.  which  weighed  34 
oz.  34  gilt-"  Enough  has  been  said  therefore  to  show  that 
there  was  ample  use  for  the  cupboard. 

A  typical  example  of  a  New  England  court  cupboard 
appears  on  the  next  page.  This  belonged  to  Gregory 
Stone,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  about  1660,  and  is  now  owned 

206 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


by  the  Antiquarian  Society,  Concord,  Mass.  Unfor- 
tunately it  has  been  painted  black,  and  some  brass  drop 
handles  have  been  added.  It  is  similar  to  the  court  cup- 
board on  page  178. 


OAK   COURT  CUPBOARD 

Owned  by  Gregory  Stone  (1660).  Owned  by  the  Antiquarian  Society, 
Concord,  Mass. 


The  early  varieties  were  the  "livery"  and  the  "court" 
cupboard.  The  livery  cupboard  in  general  appearance 
much  resembled  the  altar  and  super-altar  in  the  high  church 
of  the  present  day  (see  also  pages  22  and  36,  regarding 
this  piece  of  furniture).  The  cupboard  cloths,  often  fringed, 
tell  over  the  ends,  not  the  front,  of  the  various  stages.  On 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


these  stages,  or  shelves,  the  plate  was  displayed.  Sometimes 
hooks  were  driven  along  the  edges  of  the  shelves,  and  cups, 
mugs  and  jugs  were  hung  on  them.  The  arrangement  was 
exactly  similar  to  the  dresser  in  many  a  modern  kitchen; 
in  fact  the  "dresser"  of  that  day  still  exists  downstairs.  In 
England  it  is  universal.  To  guard  against  theft,  doors  were 
added  above  and  below,  and  thus  the  "court"  cupboard 
was  developed.  The  fronts  of  these  pieces  of  furniture  were 
decorated  in  a  variety  of  ways  with  inlay,  carving,  panels 
and  superposition  of  split  columns  and  studs  stained  black. 
The  cupboard  was  found  in  all  sizes  and  varieties  and  the 
value  had  a  wide  range.  The  appraisers  described  it  vari- 
ously. We  find:  one  small  cupboard  and  chest  of  drawers, 
^1-16-0  (1645);  a  great  cupboard;  a  table  and  cupboard, 
-£2;  a  table-cupboard,  twelve  shillings  (all  1646);  a  livery 
cupboard,  ^j-10-0  (1650);  a  side  cupboard,  eighteen 
pence;  another  "with  a  presse,"  ^"i-io-o;  a  chest  and  a 
little  cupboard,  both  with  drawers,  ^3-10-0;  "a  cort  cup- 
board, cloth  and  voider,  £1"  2  presses,  £1  (all  1652);  a 
plain  livery  cupboard,  ten  shillings  (1653);  a  press  cupboard, 
^1-4-0  (  1654) ;  a  court  cupboard  with  one  drawer,  sixteen 
shillings,  a  sideboard  cupboard,  twelve  shillings;  and  a  side 
cupboard,  fifteen  shillings  (all  1658).  In  the  lower  part 
of  this  cupboard,  or  sideboard  as  we  should  now  term  it, 
one  or  more  drawers  frequently  occurred.  Then  came  the 
"table"  or  first  stage,  the  superstructure  not  being  as  deep 
as  the  lower  part.  Sometimes  the  upper  part  ran  straight 
across  parallel  with  the  front,  and  sometimes  the  corners 
were  cut  off,  making  the  shape  like  half  a  hexagon  (see 
facing  page  36  and  frontispiece  to  this  number).  Many 
examples  of  these  varieties  still  exist. 

The  cupboards  were  of  all  sizes,  and  in  and  on  them 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


were  kept  articles  of  glass,  earthenware,  and  china,  hesides 
plate;  and  cushions  as  well  as  cloths  were  used  to  adorn 
them.  John  Barrell,  who  died  in  1658,  had  in  his  par- 
lour a  court  cupboard  and  cloth  and  small  cushion,  £1-5-0; 
and  "earthenware,  glasses,  etc.,  upon  the  cubbard  head 
and  in  the  cubbard  and  shelf,  fifteen  shillings." 

The  cupboard  cloths  were  of  damask  or  diaper.  Some- 
times the  cupboard  was  garnished  with  a  carpet,  in  which 
case  the  material  frequently  matched  the  window  curtains 
and  bed  hangings,  or  was  of  Turkey-work.  Abiell  Everell 
( 1 66 1 )  had  a  cupboard  and  a  sideboard  (^2-5-0),  "a  cup- 
board carpet  suted  to  ye  hangings"  and  eight  shillings' 
worth  of  Leghorn  earthenware. 

Many  varieties  of  the  cupboard  are  found  during  the 
second  half  of  the  century.  It  became  an  indispensable 
article  of  furniture  in  every  comfortable  home,  and  four  or 
five  are  frequently  found  in  one  house.  The  prices  cover 
a  wide  range,  and  there  are  very  many  varieties.  The 
woods  of  which  they  were  made  were  usually  oak  or  wal- 
nut, though  pine  was  used  in  the  commonest  kinds.  At 
the  date  when  New  England  was  first  settled,  Sir  Francis 
Bacon  writes :  "  Some  trees  are  best  for  cupboards,  as 
walnut."  The  court  and  livery  cupboard  soon  developed 
into  other  forms  as  the  century  advanced  by  the  addition 
of  drawers,  etc.,  at  the  separate  stages,  and  in  some  cases 
the  lower  part  was  thrown  back,  leaving  the  second  to  be 
supported  by  pillars  (see  page  169).  The  numerous  vari- 
eties evidently  bred  confusion  in  the  minds  of  the  various 
appraisers,  for  we  find  the  latter  describing  these  articles 
of  furniture  with  great  latitude.  It  is  plain  that  the  word 
cupboard  was  generic  rather  than  specific  and  needed  quali- 
fying phrases  for  clear  understanding.  Thus  William  Paddy 

209 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


has  a  sideboard  cupboard,  twelve  shillings,  and  a  large  cup- 
board chest  with  drawers,  £2,  and  Thomas  Buttolph,  a 
cupboard  and  chest  table  (1667),  £().  The  difference  in 
value  of  the  above  pieces  is  worthy  of  note,  as  it  shows  a 
great  variety  of  material,  size  and  workmanship.  Mr. 
Paddy's  large  cupboard  chest  with  drawers  must  have  been 
similar  in  character  to  the  beautiful  piece  of  furniture 
facing  this  page.  It  is  made  of  oak,  the  long  top 
drawer  being  veneered  with  snake  wood,  as  are  the  central 
ornaments  of  the  panels  and  the  side  terminals.  The  dark 
red  of  the  snake  wood  affords  rich  contrast  to  the  oak. 
The  knobs  are  ivory,  the  handles  metal.  This  is  owned 
by  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  Wethersrield,  Conn. 

In  1666,  John  Biggs  owns  a  press  cupboard,  ^1-10-0; 
Nicholas  Upshall,  a  small  livery  cupboard  with  drawers, 
^'0-10-0  ;  John  Baker,  two  cupboards  with  drawers,  ^4; 
Henry  Shrimpton,  a  livery  cupboard,  ^3  ;  and  John 
Brackett,  a  livery  cupboard  and  furniture,  ^3,  and  a  cup- 
board and  cloth  and  things  on  it,  J]y.  In  1667,  Benjamin 
Richards  has  a  sideboard  cupboard,  ^'i-io-o;  William 
Cheny,  "a  great  cubberd,  -£\  -1  0-0,  a  little  ditto,  ^0-7-6." 
William  Wardell  (1670)  owns  a  joined  cupboard,  ^1 ,  a 
"  Livory  cubbard,  ^0-15-0,  and  a  side  cubbard,  a  slight 
one,  j^o-2-6."  William  Whittingham  (1672)  has  a  side- 
board cupboard,  ^1-10-0,  and  John  Winthrop  (1673)  a 
cupboard  of  drawers.  The  dresser  was  a  form  of  the  livery 
cupboard,  but  the  former  word  rarely  occurs  in  the  inven- 
tories. In  1676,  a  cupboard  and  a  small  dresser  were  in 
Mary  Minott's  hall.  The  cupboard  contained  plate  worth 
^10-13-0.  Dr.  Jonathan  Avery  (1690)  had  a  small  cup- 
board on  a  frame.  Thus  there  were  considerable  changes 
and   developments  in  this  important  piece  of  furniture  as 


210 


CUPBOARD  CHEST  OF  DRAWERS 

Oak  inlaid  ivith  snakeivood.     Owned  by  Mr.  Walter  Hosmer,  IVethersjield,  Conn.     See  page  210. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


time  passed.  The  simpler  forms  had  become  quite  anti- 
quated by  the  end  of  the  century.  A  cupboard  belonging 
to  Captain  Thomas  Berry,  in  1697,  is  described  as  "old- 
fashioned."  In  some  of  the  wealthiest  houses  we  find  the 
cupboard  absent,  so  that  it  may  have  been  going  out  of 
fashion.  It  will  be  noticed  that  it  does  not  appear  among 
the  possessions  of  Sir  William  Phipps.  Of  the  very  wealthy, 
John  Freack  (1675)  also  possessed  no  cupboard. 

The  above  examples  are  from  the  Boston  records  ;  the 
Hartford  lists  show  a  similar  variety. 

This  brings  us  to  the  press,  which  now  appears  occa- 
sionally in  the  inventories.  People  were  rising  above  the 
grade  of  comfort  in  which  trunks  and  chests  suffice  as  re- 
ceptacles for  clothes  and  household  linen.  The  cabinet 
was  for  articles  of  value ;  the  cupboard  for  plate,  glass,  china 
and  earthenware;  and  the  press  for  linen  and  clothing. 
The  press  much  resembled  the  court  cupboard  externally, 
though  it  was  generally  larger.  The  distinction  between 
press  and  cupboard  is  not  always  maintained.  In  1659, 
Thomas  Welles  of  Netherfield  owns  "  a  linen  cupboard," 
^1-5-0.  In  1652,  there  were  two  presses  (£1)  in  John 
Cotton's  "  Gallarie  "  ;  and  William  Blanchard  possessed  a 
cupboard  with  a  press,  ^"1-10-0.  Other  presses  mentioned 
are:  a  voider  with  a  press,  ^'i-io-o  (1652);  a  press  cup- 
board, ^[-4-0  (1654)  ;  and  a  press  and  cloth,  ^"1  (1657). 
A  linen  press  also  stood  in  Humphrey  Warren's  "  Great 
Parlour  "  in  1680.  In  Elizabeth  Gardner's  parlour  also,  in 
1 68 1 ,  there  was  "a  large  press  to  hang  clothes  in,  £2." 
The  press,  therefore,  was  an  important  piece  of  furniture, 
as  is  proved  by  the  high  prices  given.  The  cloth  shows 
that  it  was  adorned  like  the  other  cupboards,  and  some- 
times we  rind  things  placed  on  the  head.    It  contained  not 


1 1 1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


only  clothes  and  linen,  but  sometimes  bedding  as  well.  In 
1653,  Captain  Tinge's  hall  contained  "6  raught  window 
cushions  in  the  presse,  £1  ;  "  and  "  a  feather  bed  and  bol- 
ster in  ye  presse,  ^4."  Moreover,  there  was  a  "  presse  bed- 
stead "  which  was  a  form  of  folding  bed.     Johnson's  Dic- 


CHEST   WITH    DRAWER    AND   MINIATURE   CHEST   WITH    DRAWER   ON  TOP 
From  the  Whipple  House,  Ipswich,  Mass. 

tionary  describes  it  as  a  bed  so  formed  as  to  be  shut  up  in 
a  case.  Robert  Carver  owned  one  in  1679.  It  was  val- 
ued at  ^3,  which  is  rive  or  six  times  the  cost  of  an  aver- 
age bedstead. 

The  frame  was  a  separate  four-legged  support  to  several 
pieces  of  furniture.  When  the  top  of  the  table  was  not 
fixed,  the  table  and  frame  often  occur.  Other  entries  are: 
chest  and  frame,  1652;  cabinet  and  frame  it  stands  on, 
1654;  desk  and  frame,   1672;   a  pair  of  virginals  with 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


frame,  1672;  trunk  with  the  frame  it  stands  on,  1674  ;  and 
small  cupboard  on  a  frame,  1691.  The  washstand  is  very 
rarely  met  with,  but  a  bason  frame  worth  five  shillings  was 
owned  by  Major-General  Gibbons,  1654.  In  1691  John 
Clarke  owns  a  cistern  and  bason  worth  four  shillings. 


OAK   CHEST   WITH  DRAWER 
From  the  Whipple  House,  Ipswich,  Mass. 


Chests  were  of  supreme  importance  in  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement  and  were  found  in  every  house  even  at  the 
close  of  the  century.  They  contained  the  clothes,  linen, 
valuables,  and  often  the  plate  of  the  family.  They  were  of 
all  sizes,  sometimes  plain  and  sometimes  carved.  The  ini- 
tials, and  often  the  date  of  birth  of  the  owner,  were  fre- 
quently carved  on  the  front.  Many  examples  of  the  oak 
chest  still  survive.  Sometimes  it  stood  on  short  legs  like 
those  shown  above  and  on  page  2  1  2,  and  facing  page  214.  In 
1652  John  Cotton  owns  one,  and  examples  are  innumerable. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  commonest  kinds  were  made  of  pine ;  cedar  was 
highly  prized  because  of  its  supposed  preservative  virtues. 
Chests  varied  in  value  in  accordance  with  their  size,  mate- 
rial, condition  and  workmanship.  A  considerable  variety 
was  found  in  New  England  homes  before  1650.  Cypress 
seems  to  have  been  the  most  valuable  wood.  In  1645,  a 
cypress  chest  is  worth  ^2-10-0,  and  another  on  the  death 
of  its  owner,  ten  years  later,  is  listed  at  ^10.  The  latter, 
however,  is  quite  exceptional,  as  a  few  examples  from  that 
decade  will  show:  a  spruce  chest,  ten  shillings;  a  great 
chest,  six  shillings  and  six  pence ;  a  chest,  thirteen  shillings 
and  four  pence;  a  joined  do,  fifteen  shillings;  one  chest, 
eighteen  pence;  a  chest,  a  trunk  and  a  long  cushion,  ten 
shillings;  a  chest  covered  with  red  leather,  £  2;  a  "  ci- 
presse"  chest,  a  chest  worth  nothing;  a  wainscot  do, 

fifteen  shillings;  a  cedar  do,  five  boxes  and  a  desk,  ^1  ; 
two  joyned  chests,  four  shillings ;  two  chests  and  two  boxes,. 
^1-15-0.  Thus  the  value  varied  between  zero  and  ten 
pounds.  A  narrow  shallow  box  often  ran  along  one  end 
just  under  the  lid.  This  was  called  the  till,  and  in  it  the 
smaller  articles  of  value  and  finery  were  kept. 

A  handsome  oak  chest  with  two  drawers  below  the 
deep  well  and  a  till  to  the  right  inside  faces  this  page.  It 
is  owned  by  Mrs.  John  Marshall  Holcombe,  Hartford, 
Conn.  The  panels  are  carved  and  the  decorations  of  spin- 
dles and  egg-shaped  ornaments  are  of  white  wood  stained 
black.  A  common  name  for  this  is  the  "bride's  chest," 
as  it  frequently  contained  the  trousseau. 

Another  chest  of  dark  oak  with  carved  panels  and 
floral  ornamentation,  belonging  to  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters, 
of  Salem,  Mass.,  faces  page  216.  Upon  it  stands  a  small 
oak  writing-desk  of  the  same  period. 

214 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  trunk  was  also  commonly  found.  In  1647,  a  new 
trunk  belonging  to  the  deceased  Joseph  Weld,  of  Roxbury, 
is  estimated  at  ten  shillings.  In  1654,  a  case  and  a  trunk 
are  worth  only  half  a  crown.  Others  mentioned  are  as  fol- 
lows:  a  trunk,  ten  shillings;  two  trunks,  sixteen  shillings; 
a  small  red  trunk,  half  a  crown ;  a  small  trunk  with  draw- 
ers, six  shillings;  two  chests  and  three  trunks,  eight  shil- 
lings; one  trunk,  twelve  shillings.  The  trunk  was  often 
covered.  The  sealskin  trunk  is  frequently  found ;  and  in 
1652  a  "great  hair  trunk"  costs  ^1.  Governor  Dudley 
owns  an  iron-bound  trunk  which,  with  a  knife  and 
voider,  comes  to  ^1-2-6.  In  1671,  we  find  two  trunks 
with  frames  ^1  -1 0-0,  and  three  others,  £2.  John  Hull 
(1673)  has  a  small  trunk  with  drawers,  six  shillings.  The 
distinction  between  the  trunk  and  the  chest  is  not  always 
clear,  though  the  trunk  was  usually  reserved  for  keeping 
wearing  apparel  in.  Its  form  usually  resembled  a  section 
of  a  tree  trunk,  and  it  seems  in  most  cases  to  have  been 
covered  with  some  form  of  hide.  The  lack  of  precision 
in  the  early  dictionary  makers  renders  it  vain  to  go  to 
them  for  information.  For  instance,  in  Phillips's  New 
World  of  Words  (1662),  we  find  the  following  definitions: 
'Trunk,  a  chest  or  box  ;  chest,  a  kind  of  coffer,  box  or  trunk ; 
casket,  a  little  cabinet  ;  cabinet,  a  chest  of  drawers  or  little 
trunk  to  put  things  in.  Thus  we  have  an  endless  chain  and 
are  working  in  a  circle  in  which  everything  seems  to  be 
everything  else.  When  terms  were  used  so  loosely  even  by 
those  who  were  trying  to  explain  them  to  others,  we  can- 
not be  surprised  at  the  difficulties  the  appraisers  seem  to 
have  experienced  in  defining  the  various  objects. 

Two  kinds  of  the  trunk  face  page  224. 

The  first  development  of  the  simple  chest  was  the  in- 

215 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


sertion  of  a  drawer  below.  Then  came  more  drawers,  till 
we  have  a  bewildering  array  of  chest  with  drawers,  chest 
of  drawers,  nest  of  drawers,  and  case  of  drawers.  The 
chest  was  the  converse  of  the'  cupboard  :  the  latter  was 
originally  a  series  of  shelves  that  were  gradually  closed  in 
with  doors  and  had  drawers  added,  finally  taking  the  form 
of  a  huge  chest  surmounted  by  a  smaller  one,  as  we  have 
seen  ;  while  the  chest  gradually  had  its  interior  divided  up 
into  compartments  and  drawers.  While  one  became  closed 
in,  the  other  opened  up.  The  cabinet  in  its  most  simple 
form  was  nothing  but  the  chest,  with  drawers  and  shelves 
inside,  shut  in  by  two  doors  into  which  the  front  was 
divided. 

Thomas  Cortmore  of  Charlestown  (1645)  owned  a 
chest  of  drawers,  £i  ;  a  little  cabinet,  four  shillings  ;  a  lit- 
tle box  of  drawers,  two  shillings  ;  two  chests,  four  cases, 
and  three  trunks,  one  of  which  was  covered  with  sealskin. 
Captain  Tinge  ( 1653)  had  a  sealskin  trunk,  six  shillings  ;  a 
small  chest  of  drawers,  fifteen  shillings  ;  a  small  cabinet, 
five  shillings;  a  chest  of  drawers,  ^"2-10-0  ;  an  old  box 
with  drawers,  fifteen  shillings  ;  two  small  chests  of  drawers, 
^"i  ;  two  plain  chests,  and  a  cypress  and  a  "  great  "  chest, 
valued  at  ^5  and  £\  respectively  ;  the  carving  on  the 
two  last  must  have  been  profuse  and  ornate  to  justify  such 
prices.  Other  articles  of  this  class  in  the  middle  of  the  cen- 
tury include  a  chest  of  drawers,  five  shillings,  and  others  at 
£  1  - 1  0-0,  ^3,  ^'1  -5-0,  and  £\  -1  2-0  respectively.  Then  we 
have  cases  and  boxes  of  drawers.  In  1654  we  find  a  "  box 
of  drawers,"  three  shillings,  and  a  "  large  carpet  and  an  old 
case  of  drawers,  ^j-10-0."  As  the  century  advanced,  the 
drawers  multiplied,  and  this  piece  of  furniture  became  more 
elaborate.    In  1670  William  Wardell  has  a  chest  with  five 


- 

—  ii*in  iCi  i  '.. 

B 

r  i 


BUSK: 


OAK  DESK 

M<3</*  /«  /d^.     In  the  collection  of  the  Wayside  Inn,  Sudbury.  Owned  by  Mr.  E.  R.  Lemon. 

See  page  220. 

CARVED  OAK  CHEST  AND  SMALL  WRITING-DESK 

Owned  by  Mr.  Charles  R.  Waters,  Salem,  Mass.      See  page  214. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


drawers,  £2,  and  one  with  two  drawers,  ^1-10-0.  In 
1675  John  Freack  has  a  case  of  drawers,  ^3.  Several  va- 
rieties are  represented  in  this  section.  On  page  213  is 
shown  an  oak  chest  with  drawer,  standing  on  big  ball  feet. 


OAK  CASE  OF  DRAWERS 
Owned  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  Boston. 


An  oak  case,  or  "  nest  of  drawers,"  standing  on  short, 
square  feet,  is  shown  on  this  page.  The  drop  handles 
are  old,  but  are  probably  a  later  addition  to  the  speci- 
men. 

A  simpler  specimen,  belonging  to  the  collection  of 
the  Wayside  Inn  is  shown  on  the  next  page.     Two  of  the 

217 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


From  the  "Wayside  Inn,"  Sudbury,  Mass.     Owned  by  Mr.  E.  R.  Lemon. 


handsome  bell-flower  shaped  handles  are  missing.  Al- 
though the  panels  would  seem  to  show  that  there  are  eight 
drawers,  the  locks  show  only  four.  An  old  chest  or 
"  nest  of  drawers,"  without  knobs  or  handles,  belonging 
to  Mr.  F.  Hotchkiss  of  New  Haven,  appears  on  page  219. 
It  is  of  the  plainest  workmanship.  The  top  lifts  up,  re- 
vealing a  deep  well. 

Chests  of  drawers  were  adorned  with  cloths  as  the  cup- 
boards were.  This  is  distinctly  shown  by  an  item  of  Gov- 
ernor Leete's  inventory  in  Hartford  County  (1682),  which 
reads  "  one  chest  of  drawers  and  cupboard  cloth  belonging 
to  it,  £2-1  6-0." 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CHEST   OR   "NEST   OF    DRAWERS  " 
Owned  by  Mr.  F.  Hotchkiss,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


On  page  221  is  represented  a  chest  of  drawers  with 
a  table  top  having  falling  leaves  supported  on  brackets. 
The  wood  is  light  oak  and  is  ornamented  with  the  usual 
black  spindles.  This  piece  is  owned  by  the  Massachu- 
setts Historical  Society,  Boston,  Mass. 

An  oak  chest  with  two  drawers  faces  page  226. 
Its  panels  are  edged  with  maple  stained  black,  it  stands  on 
square  feet,  and  it  is  richly  carved.     This  piece  has  long 

219 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


been  in  the  Talcott  family,  and  is  owned  now  by  Mrs. 
Wainwright,  Hartford,  Conn. 

A  further  development  of  the  chest  with  drawers  was 
the  desk  or  "  screetore  "  that  occurs  in  1658  among  Mr. 
Goody  ear's  possessions  (see  page  1  64).  All  that  was  necessary 
was  to  take  a  great  chest  with  two  or  three  drawers  in  the 
lower  part  and  let  down  the  front  of  the  upper  well  on 
hinges,  supporting  it  with  chains.  The  interior  thus  ex- 
posed was  then  rilled  in  with  convenient  drawers,  shelves 
and  compartments.  It  is  abundantly  evident  that  some 
form  of  this  desk,  called  the  press  desk,  or  scretore,  existed 
in  New  England  in  the  first  halt  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. John  Cotton  had  a  "press  desk  and  chest,  £1,"  in 
1652.  The  designation  plainly  shows  the  construction. 
The  small  separate  desk  was  also  common.  Simon  Eire 
had  one  in  his  bedroom  (1653);  Christopher  Stanley 
(1646)  owned  two,  and  Robert  Turner  (1651),  one.  A 
box  and  desk  in  Joseph  Weld's  "inner  chamber"  (1647) 
was  valued  at  seven  shillings.  An  oak  desk,  made  in  1684, 
with  the  date  and  initials  W.  H.,  is  shown  facing  page 
216.     It  is  in  the  Wayside  Inn,  Sudburv,  Mass. 

As  early  as  1669,  Antipas  Boyse  has  an  elaborate  "  scri- 
tore  and  desk  "  valued  as  high  as  ^10.  In  1672,  William 
Whittingham  owns  a  desk  and  frame,  ten  shillings;  James 
Edmunds  (1676)  two  cedar  desks,  £\;  Thomas  Kellond 
(1683)  a  scriptore,  £2,  and  a  small  ditto,  ten  shillings; 
John  Bracket,  a  standing  desk,  standish  and  box, 

John  Blackleach  of  Wethersfield,  whose  estate  amount- 
ed to  ^"1576-19-0  at  his  death  in  1703,  owned  eight  desks, 
one  of  which  was  a  valuable  "  desk  with  drawers,"  ^3-13-0- 
We  see  therefore  that  long  before  the  end  of  our  period  the 
escritoire  had  already  reached  its  full  development. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


A  bookcase  as  a  separate  article  of  furniture  appears  in 
the  inventory  of  Henry  Bridgham  in  1671.  Books  of  a 
devotional  character  were  plentiful.  Many  worthies  of  the 
colonies  must  have  found  time  for  study  and  meditation 
even  in  the  early  days  of  hardship,  struggle  and  strife.  Re- 
spectable libraries  were  not  uncommon.  The  Rev.  John 
Morton's  729  volumes  of  which  189  were  folios  (1663) 


OAK   CHEST   OF   DRAWERS   WITH    TABLE  TOP 
Owned  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  Boston. 


have  already  been  mentioned.  The  study  frequently  occurs 
as  a  separate  apartment  in  the  best  houses.  Here  the  mas- 
ter might  read  and  write  at  his  ease,  for  it  was  comfortably 
warmed  and  furnished.  John  Cotton's  is  an  early  exam- 
ple. In  1652,  it  contained  a  table,  three  chairs,  a  stool  and 
a  couch ;  and  the  "  liberary  of  books  as  valued  in  the  will 
by  him  though  cost  much  more  X^0-"  Inside  the  press 
desk  were  of  course  the  usual  quill  pens,  sand-box  and  ink- 
stand, or  standish.  The  latter  was  of  wood,  pewter,  silver 
or  iron.    The  wood  was  sometimes  carved.    Five  shillings 


221 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


was  the  value  of  Henry  Webb's  wooden  standish  in  1660. 
The  desk  equipment  of  Colonel  John  Allyn  (Hartford, 
1696)  comprises  a  standish,  sealing  (wax),  inkhorn,  pen- 
knife, etc.,  and  a  pair  of  spectacles  and  case. 

The  value  of  chests,  trunks,  cabinets,  etc.,  was  consid- 
erably increased  when  accompanied  with  metal  mountings, 
locks,  keys,  and  hinges.  Wrought  iron  and  brass  were  in 
great  demand.  Iron-bound  chests  and  boxes  were  in  most 
shops  and  country  houses,  and  in  many  bedrooms.  It  must 
be  assumed  that  the  majority  of  boxes,  trunks,  cases  and 
chests  had  no  locks,  since  in  many  cases  the  lock  was  worth 
special  mention.  Thus  William  Bartlett  of  Hartford 
(1658)  has  "a  chest  with  a  lock,  ten  shillings."  For  pull- 
ing out  the  drawers,  knobs  were  principally  used.  In  the 
inventories  of  hardware  in  various  stores,  handles  are  very 
seldom  mentioned.  In  1640  John  Harbye  had  two  old 
locks  at  a  shilling  each,  and  four  iron  hinges  at  ten  pence 
each.  Six  years  later  a  pair  of  curtain  rods  is  entered  at 
three  shillings,  while  five  ditto  cost  a  shilling  each  in  1653. 
Prices  scarcely  varied  during  the  next  half  century.  Alex- 
ander Rollo  (Hartford,  1709)  had  a  door  lock  and  key, 
.£0-7-6;  2  chests  with  locks  and  keys,  ^0-15-0;  a  desk 
with  ditto,  ^To-8-o. 

The  cabinet  varied  in  value,  but  not  so  greatly  as  the 
chest  and  cupboard.  A  stray  cabinet  of  Eastern  workman- 
ship is  occasionally  found,  but  when  the  other  kinds  reach 
comparatively  high  value  it  is  due  to  the  articles  contained 
inside.  In  1653  "a  small  cabinet  rive  shillings"  occurs. 
In  1654  an  iron-bound  cabinet  is  appraised  at  three  times 
as  much ;  and  a  cabinet,  frame  it  stands  on,  and  cupboard 
cloth,  at  ^2-10-0  ;  but  here  the  cloth  may  have  been  the 
most  valuable  part  of  the  item.     Six  years  later  the  latter 

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THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


sum  also  would  pay  for  a  "  cabinet  and  some  things  in 
it";  while  another  "cabinet  with  several  things  in  it" 
comes  to  £2,  one  ditto  with  drawers,  seventeen  shillings 
and  six  pence,  and  a  "green  velvet  cabinet,  £1."  Other 
kinds  of  cabinets  were  known  at  this  time,  although  they 
do  not  appear  till  the  owners  die,  a  few  years  later.  James 
Edmunds  (1676)  has  a  cedar  cabinet,  £1.  A  crimson 
velvet  cabinet  (twelve  shillings)  is  found  in  the  home  of 
Antipas  Boyse  in  1679.  The  cabinet  was  not  necessarily 
a  very  small  piece  of  furniture  as  compared  with  the  chest, 
since,  when  small,  the  entry  often  so  specifies,  as  we  have 
seen.  Moreover,  the  "  frame  it  stands  on  "  indicates  a 
large  object.  The  nature  of  the  articles  that  were  kept  in 
the  cabinets  may  be  gathered  from  direct  evidence.  At  the 
death  of  Henry  Shrimpton  in  1666  a  small  cabinet  con- 
tained seven  gold  rings  and  two  purses,  all  worth  ^3.  We 
have  seen  that  there  were  some  blue  china  dishes  in  Mr. 
Francis  Brewster's  East  India  cabinet  in  1647.  Porcelain 
was  coming  in  now  through  the  Dutch  and  English  trade 
with  the  Far  East,  and  not  very  long  after  the  East  India 
Company  was  formed  in  London  many  examples  are  found. 
Governor  Eaton  (see  page  166)  had  a  "  sheney  bason,"  and 
Thomas  Cortmore  had  some  "  chaney  ware  platters,  £1." 
A  "  chaney  dish  and  others  on  the  shelves,  three  shillings," 
belonged  to  Major-General  Gibbons,  while  a  "  chaney  cup 
tipped  with  silver  "  was  owned  by  Humphrey  Damerell  ; 
and  John  Coggan  possessed  "six  small  chany  dishes,  £1." 
These  men  all  died  before  1660.  East  India  goods  greatly 
multiplied  in  the  houses  towards  the  close  of  the  century, 
not  only  porcelains  but  the  cabinets  and  other  Oriental  wares 
with  which  we  have  lately  again  become  so  familiar.  In 
1699  John  Higginson  writes  from  Salem  to  his  brother  in 


223 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


India  :  "  In  the  late  war  all  East  India  goods  were  ex- 
tremely dear.  .  .  .  China  and  lacker  wares  will  sell  if  a 
small  quantity." 

Although  the  Puritans  frowned  down  all  kinds  of  mu- 
sical instruments  but  the  trumpet  and  drum,  yet  in  the 
privacy  of  their  homes  there  were  many  who  played  the 
virginals  in  New  England.  In  1645  }ohn  Simeon  of  Wa- 
tertown  has  an  old  pair  of  virginals  ;  and  Major-General 
Gibbons  has  another  old  one  worth  j£i  in  1654.  Five 
shillings  is  the  value  of  another  ancient  specimen  ;  but  one 
in  good  condition  is  worth  £2  in  1667,  and  another  "with 
frame"  comes  to  the  same  in  1672.  A  "  gitterne  "  is  en- 
tered at  a  crown  in  1653;  Dr.  Samuel  Allcock  owns  "a 
cittern  and  case"  in  1677,  and  an  old  one  belonging  to 
Thomas  Sexton  (1679)  is  worth  only  a  florin.  An  old 
guitar,  at  sixteen  shillings,  is  found  among  Dr.  John 
Clarke's  possessions  in  1690. 

Clocks  were  found  in  most  of  the  prosperous  homes 
during  the  first  half  of  the  century.  When  Abraham  Shaw 
of  Dedham  passed  from  time  into  eternity  in  1638  his 
clock  was  still  worth  eighteen  shillings  to  others.  One- 
third  of  that  sum  surBces  for  an  old  timepiece  in  1654. 
The  tall  clock  from  the  Low  Countries  was  in  use  here 
many  years  before  it  is  known  to  have  been  made  in  Eng- 
land. It  is  always  described  as  the  "  clock  and  case  "  in 
the  inventories,  and  is  quite  expensive.  In  1652  we  find 
a  brass  clock,  £2  ;  and  a  clock  and  case,  £6.  Specimens 
of  each  appear  facing  page  168.  The  ordinary 'clock  aver- 
aged from  £2  to  J~2.  In  the  dining-room  of  Sir  William 
Phipps,  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  was  one  worth  ^"20,  but 
this  must  have  been  of  rare  workmanship.  "In  my  Ladies 
Room"  was  also  "a  repeating  clock,  ^10." 

224 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Watches  were  also  in  use.  Comfort  Starr  had  one 
watch  (£2)  in  1659;  and  ten  years  later  Antipas  Boyse 
owned  a  silver  watch-case  with  watch,  ^2-10-0.  The  dis- 
tinction between  watches  and  clocks  is  not  always  clear  in 
the  minds  of  the  appraisers,  for  in  1675  Captain  Samuel 
Scarlet  is  credited  with  "one  watch  with  waites, 
Sun-dials  are  found,  and  hour-glasses  are  innumerable. 

Looking-glasses  were  also  in  use  here  twenty-rive  years 
at  least  before  they  were  manufactured  in  England.  When 
Robert  Bulton  ceased  seeing  "  through  a  glass  darkly,"  in 
1650,  his  hall  contained  "two  looking-glasses,  twelve  shil- 
lings." Two  years  later,  one  at  half  a  crown  was  included 
in  the  estate  of  George  Bennett.  In  1652,  we  find  a  great 
looking-glass,  J~\  ;  and  in  1654,  "one  great  looking-Glass 
of  ibeny,  £1"  William  Bartlett  of  Hartford,  in  1658, 
owns  ten  looking-glasses,  two  of  them  at  -£\  each.  The 
inventories  show  a  scarcity  of  this  article  until  the  last 
quarter  of  this  century,  although  of  those  mentioned  several 
are  valued  at  from  three  to  eight  shillings  each,  and  one  as 
low  as  one  shilling.  Metal  brackets  for  candles  were  soon 
affixed  to  the  frames.  Humphrey  Warren  (1680)  and 
John  Winslow  (1683)  each  possessed  a  "looking-glass 
and  brasses."  An  interesting  looking-glass  frame  inlaid 
with  olive-wood  faces  page  2^0.  This  originally  belonged 
to  the  Rev.  John  White  of  Gloucester  and  was  presented 
to  the  collection  at  the  Whipple  House,  Ipswich,  by  Mrs. 
C.  E.  Bomer.  The  olive-wood  frame  for  looking-glasses 
has  already  been  mentioned  on  page  9. 

The  fireplaces  were  large  and  well  furnished.  Gener- 
ally there  was  an  iron  back,  cast  with  some  figure  or  floral 
design.  Andirons  were  universal ;  they  were  of  brass  or 
iron,  or  iron  with  brass  dog's-heads.    Dogs  are  often  men- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


tioned.  They  varied  in  price,  costing  anything  from  five 
shillings  to  fifty  shillings  a  pair.  They  were  always  ac- 
companied by  shovel  and  tongs,  but  the  poker  is  never 
mentioned  ;  wood  fires  did  not  require  it.  Sometimes  chim- 
ney-pans and  fire-pans  occur.  Adam  Winthrop  (1651) 
owned  also  an  iron  fender,  and  a  toasting-iron  tipped  with 
silver.  The  hearth  needed  a  pair  of  bellows  in  order  to 
be  fully  equipped.  Some  of  these  were  handsomely  carved 
and  otherwise  ornamented.  In  1650  Captain  Tinge  had 
a  great  lantern  and  a  pair  of  bellows  with  a  brass  pipe,  ten 
shillings  ;  and  a  great  pair  of  brass  andirons  and  a  pair  of 
carved  bellows  worth  ^3-10-0.  • 

Till  comparatively  late  in  the  century,  offensive  and 
defensive  armour  was  found  in  every  house ;  it  was  needed 
against  the  Indians  as  well  as  for  hunting  purposes.  The 
military  chiefs  also  had  quite  an  arsenal  in  their  houses. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  give  the  furniture  and  equipment 
in  the  artillery  room  of  Major-General  Gibbons  in  the 
middle  of  the  century  (1654).  There  was  a  big  fireplace 
with  andirons ;  a  drawing-table  and  large  carpet,  a  long 
cushion,  two  forms,  three  chairs  and  a  case  of  drawers. 
The  arms  consisted  of  seven  muskets,  seven  pistols,  five 
harquebuses,  one  cross-bow,  one  long  bow,  dart  arrows,  one 
pole-ax,  five  glass  grenades,  one  Indian  brusile  club,  sixteen 
pieces  of  armour,  one  complete  corselet  and  pike,  a  cornet, 
and  four  brass  guns  and  carriages. 

The  rooms  in  the  early  houses  were  few  as  a  rule,  though 
spacious.  Sufficient  evidence  has  now  been  produced  to 
prove  that  in  many  cases  elegance  as  well  as  comfort  was 
cultivated  in  the  interior  furnishings,  although  extravagance 
in  the  building  and  furnishing  of  houses  was  discouraged 
by  the  early  Puritans.    Governor  John  Winthrop  reproved 

226 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


his  deputy  in  1632,  telling  him  that  "he  did  not  well  to 
bestow  too  much  cost  about  wainscoting  and  adorning  his 
house  in  the  beginning  of  a  plantation,  both  in  regard  of  the 
public  charges  and  for  example."  Winthrop's  advice  was  dis- 
regarded before  the  commonwealth  lost  its  charter,  however, 
and  handsomer  houses  were  erected,  especially  in  Boston. 
The  pious  Judge  Sewall  wrote  to  London  for  finer  furniture 
than  could  be  obtained  in  this  country.  Increase  of  wealth 
bred  luxury,  and  in  the  second  half  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury the  number  of  wealthy  individuals  rapidly  multiplied. 
A  long  list  might  be  compiled  of  estates  of  more  than 
^2000.  In  the  Boston  records  alone  we  find :  Henry 
Shrimpton  (1666),  ^*  12,000;  Antipas  Boyse  (1669),  about 
^2500  ;  Captain  Peter  Oliver  (1670),  ^4572  ;  James  Penn 
( 1  67 1 ),  ^2039;  Governor  Richard  Bellingham  (1672), 
^3244;  Captain  Samuel  Scarlet  ( 1 675 ),  ^2004 ;  John 
Freack  (1675),  ^2391  ;  Joshua  Atwater  (1676),  ^4127; 
Thomas  Lake  (1677),  ^2445;  Henry  Mountford  (1691), 
£2722;  Sir  William  Phipps  (1696),  ^3337;  Robert 
Bronsdon  (1702),  ^3252;  Richard  Middlecot  (1704), 
^2084;  Florence  Maccarty  ( 1 7 1  2),  ^2922  ;  and  Madam 
Elizabeth  Stoddard  (171  3),  ^18,044.  John  Mico,  a  mer- 
chant who  lived  till  171  8,  was  worth  ^11,230. 

The  Hartford  records  also  show  some  large  estates,  in- 
cluding James  Richards  (1680),  ^"793 1  ;  Jonathan  Gilbert 
(1682),  ^2484;  Colonel  John  Allyn  (1696),  ^2013; 
Richard  Lord  (1712),  ^6369;  and  John  Haynes  (171 4), 
^3330.  Governor  Leete's  possessions  in  Hartford  County 
alone  came  to  ^1040;  and  there  were  dozens  of  other 
estates  between  one  and  two  thousand  pounds.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  compare  these  sums  with  the  Southern  estates  on 
pages  1 09—1 1  o. 

227 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Josselyn,  who  visited  Salem  in  1664,  said:  "In  this 
town  are  some  very  rich  merchants."  The  records  of  the 
town  show  that  this  was  not  merely  a  complimentary  state- 
ment. Salem's  mercantile  marine  brought  every  kind  of 
foreign  goods  to  her  door.  One  of  her  distinguished 
citizens  was  Captain  Philip  English,  a  trader,  who  built  a 
stylish  dwelling  in  Salem  in  1683.  Down  to  1753  it  was 
known  as  English's  great  house.  During  the  witchcraft 
mania,  in  1692,  he  and  his  wife  nearly  fell  victims,  but 
escaped  by  the  connivance  of  the  authorities.  The  governor, 
Sir  William  Phipps,  seems  to  have  kept  his  head.  The 
witch-baiting  mob,  however,  sacked  Captain  English's 
house  and  destroyed  or  carried  off  the  furniture  that  had 
been  brought  in  on  many  voyages.  Compensation  was 
afterward  offered,  but  refused  as  inadequate.  The  heirs 
afterward  accepted  £200. 

John  Dunton,  a  London  citizen,  visited  New  England 
in  1685,  and  has  left  some  interesting  notes.  The  first 
person  he  went  to  see  in  Salem  was  George  Herrick,  who 
was  marshal  of  Essex  during  the  witchcraft  mania,  Dun- 
ton  writes:  "The  entertainment  he  gave  me  was  truly 
noble  and  generous,  and  my  lodging  so  extraordinary  both 
with  respect  to  the  largeness  of  the  room  and  richness  of 
the  furniture,  as  free  he  was  that  had  I  staid  a  month  there, 
I  had  been  welcome  gratis.  To  give  you  his  character,  in 
brief,  my  Dear,  he  is  a  Person  whose  Purse  is  great,  but  his 
Heart  greater;  he  loves  to  be  bountiful,  yet  limits  his 
Bounty  by  Reason:  He  knows  what  is  good  and  loves  it; 
and  loves  to  do  it  himself  for  its  own  sake  and  not  for 
thanks :  he  is  the  Mirror  of  hospitality,  and  neither  Abra- 
ham nor  Lot  were  ever  more  kind  to  strangers."  Herrick 
treated  him  also  to  "all  that  was  rare  in  the  Countrey." 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Dunton  had  a  splendid  supper  and  slept  on  a  "bed  of  down." 
"My  apartment  was  so  noble,"  he  writes,  "and  the  Furni- 
ture so  suitable  to  it,  that  I  doubt  not  but  even  the  king 
himself  has  been  oftentimes  contented  with  a  worser 
lodging." 

The  better  class  of  house  in  New  England  differed 
from  that  in  the  South  in  seldom  having  a  bed  in  the  hall, 
and  only  occasionally  in  the  parlour.  The  hall  was  the 
general  family  living  and  reception  room,  the  parlour  hav- 
ing an  air  of  greater  intimacy  and  retirement.  The  hall, 
until  the  century  was  well  advanced,  often  contained  an  odd 
mixture  of  severe  and  luxurious  furniture.  In  1670,  Wil- 
liam Wardell's  hall  contained  an  expensive  table  and  "  dar- 
nix  carpet"  with  five  joint  stools  under  it, — their  position  is 
expressly  stated.  Then  there  were  four  leather  chairs,  one 
small  and  one  big  joined  chair,  and  four  of  the  expensive 
"green"  chairs  accompanied  by  two  stools  with  silk  fringe. 
Five  green  wrought  cushions  added  to  their  comfort.  In- 
stead of  a  cupboard,  there  were  a  great  chest  with  cupboard 
cloth  and  cushion,  and  two  other  valuable  chests  containing 
one  and  five  drawers  respectively.  On  one  of  these  were  a 
bible  and  other  books,  and  over  the  other  was  a  looking- 
glass.     The  hearth  was  garnished  with  the  usual  brassware. 

The  dining-room  was  furnished  with  a  long  cedar  table, 
and  a  small  table  (and  carpet)  with  drawers  in  which  was 
a  case  containing  a  silver  knife,  spoon  and  fork.  (This  is 
the  earliest  mention  or  the  table  fork  in  New  England  that 
I  have  found.)  The  seats  consisted  of  four  leather  chairs 
and  thirteen  joint  stools.  Against  one  wall  stood  a  glass 
case,  on  the  shelves  of  which  were  nine  pieces  of  earthen- 
ware. A  tin  lantern,  a  chimney-back,  andirons,  etc.,  minis- 
tered to  light  and  heat. 

229 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  little  parlour  contained  a  fine  chest  of  drawers 
covered  by  a  green  cloth  with  a  border  and  containing  a 
brush  and  other  toilet  articles  ;  a  feather  bed  with  red  cur- 
tains and  valance,  two  cushioned  stools,  two  low  leather  and 
six  matted  high  chairs  ;  a  spice-box  with  drawers  ;  and  an 
iron  chimney-back,  and  andirons.  The  closet  contained  a 
desk  and  some  lumber. 

Besides  the  kitchen,  the  house  contained  five  other 
rooms,  handsomely  furnished. 

The  house  of  Sir  William  Phipps,  the  governor  already 
mentioned,  shows  a  degree  of  luxury  and  elegance  that  one 
hardly  expects  to  find  in  New' England  in  1696.  This 
home  of  wealth  seems  singularly  modern  as  we  reconstruct 
it.  There  was  no  bed  in  the  hall,  the  furniture  of  which 
consisted  of  two  tables  and  a  carpet,  twelve  cane  chairs  and 
a  couch.  A  large  looking-glass  valued  at  ^8  hangs  on  the 
wall,  and  two  pairs  of  brass  andirons  tell  us  that  two  fires 
burned  brightly  in  this  spacious  entrance.  Passing  into  the 
dining-room,  we  find  no  less  than  three  tables.  There  are 
fourteen  chairs,  "one  couch  and  squabb,"  and  a  clock 
which  must  have  been  exceedingly  handsome,  for  it  was 
valued  at  £20.  A  second  looking-glass  worth  just  half  as 
much  as  the  one  in  the  hall  also  adorns  the  room,  and  there 
are  one  pair  of  andirons  and  a  candlestick.  In  the  closet, 
probably  built  in  the  wall,  there  is  a  case  of  "  crystall 
bottles"  worth  ^10  ;  and  some  guns,  swords,  etc.,  worth  ^1  2. 

In  "  My  Lady's  Room  "  there  stands  a  very  handsome 
bed  with  its  furniture  of  silk  curtains  and  silk  quilt,  valued 
at  £yo.  For  further  comfort  we  find  a  chest  of  drawers, 
dressing-box,  tables  and  stands,  a  looking-glass  and  six 
chairs.  A  very  valuable  article  is  a  "repeating  clock" 
worth  no  less  than  ^10. 

230 


LOOKING-GLASS  FRAME 

Inlaid  ivit/i  olive  wood.     From  the  Whipple  House,  Ipsivicb,  Mass.     See  page  225. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  "  Hall  Chamber  "  contains  a  still  handsomer  bed 
which  with  its  silk,  quilt  and  curtains  and  eighteen  cushions 
is  valued  at  ^100.  This  room  also  contains  a  "  scriptore 
and  stand,  table,  dressing-box  and  stands,"  "twelve  cane 
chairs  and  squabb,"  and  a  looking-glass.  "  Chiny  ware" 
adorns  the  chimney-piece,  where  the  logs  blaze  on  brass 
andirons.  Of  course  the  fire  shovel,  etc.,  stands  conven- 
iently by  the  side  of  the  chimney-piece. 

There  is  also  a  "White  Chamber"  in  the  house,  but 
the  bed  here  is  evidently  simpler,  as  it  is  only  valued  at 
£2.0  with  its  furniture,  quilt,  and  curtain.  A  chest  of 
drawers,  a  table,  a  looking-glass,  and  six  Turkey-work 
chairs  furnish  the  room.  Here  are  also  two  trunks  and 
linen  valued  at  ^63-8-0. 

The  "Maid's  Chamber"  contained  a  curtained  bed, 
table  and  looking-glass.  The  "Chaplain's  Chamber"  con- 
tained, besides  the  curtained  bed  and  his  case  of  barber's 
implements  and  gun,  a  table  and  six  leather  chairs.  This 
shows  that  the  condition  of  a  private  chaplain  in  New 
England  was  by  no  means  so  servile  as  that  of  his  brother 
in  the  Old  Country,  and  would  not  have  excited  Macaulay's 
contemptuous  pity.  The  other  apartments  consisted  of  a 
closet  in  which  was  a  bed,  etc.,  and  a  "little  chamber" 
containing  a  negro  woman's  bed  with  curtains,  garrets  for 
the  servants,  and  the  kitchen.  In  the  kitchen,  besides  the 
ordinary  household  and  cooking  utensils,  there  was  silver 
plate  to  the  value  of  ^"415.  Other  possessions  of  Sir 
William  included  a  coach  and  horses,  a  saddle  horse,  and 
a  yacht. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  it  was  customary  for  parents 
to  give  their  children  a  generous  portion  of  household  goods 
on  their  marriage.    As  a  rule,  this  was  all  new  furniture 

231 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  husband.  An  example 
of  the  varions  articles  included  in  this  dowry  is  found  in 
the  inventory  of  Alexander  Allyn  of  Hartford,  who  died  in 
1708.  It  is  headed  "Estate  that  deceased  had  with  his 
wife,  Elizabeth,  in  marriage  (now  left  to  her)."  One  round 
table,  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  box,  books  ;  white  earthenware, 
glasses,  tin  candlesticks,  a  pair  of  andirons,  tongs  and  slice, 
warming-pan;  bed  with  curtain,  valance  and  coverings;  six 
pair  sheets,  six  pair  pillowbeers;  diaper  table  cloth,  twelve 
do.  napkins,  four  table  cloths,  two  dozen  napkins,  sixteen 
towels  ;  one  chest,  a  looking-glass;  one  "  sive";  a  porringer, 
salt,  wine-cup  and  spoon,  all  silver  ;  two  trunks,  earthen- 
ware, a  child's  basket;  gridiron,  brass  kettle,  two  brass 
skillets,  iron  pot  and  hooks ;  two  pewter  platters,  eleven 
plates,  one  bason,  nine  porringers,  two  saucers,  one  salt, 
three  drinking-cups,  three  spoons;  tinware,  earthenware 
and  a  stone  jug;  fork  and  skimmer;  trenchers,  two  heaters; 
four  chairs;  in  silver  money,  j^g  ;  total,  ,£50-7-0. 

A  fine  example  of  a  New  England  kitchen  faces  page 
222.     This  is  in  the  Whipple  House,  Ipswich,  Mass. 


THE  FURNITURE 

of  our  mintf 

FOREFATHERS 


THE  ILLUSTRATIONS  FOR  THE  NEW  ENG- 
LAND PORTIONS  OF  THIS  WORK  AN  D  A 
NUMBER  OF  THOSE  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE 
ARE  REPRODUCED  FROM  PHOTOGRAPHS 
BY    R.     F.    TURNBULL,     OF     NEW  YORK 


2  £ 

M 

O  K 

n  s 


o  ^ 


THE  FURNITURE 

OF  OUR 

FOREFATHERS 


By  ESTHER  SINGLETON 

WITH  CRITICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  PLATES 
By  RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAX  PAGE  AND  COMPANY 
i     9      o  i 


COPYRIGHT,   1901,  BY 
DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  CO. 
AUGUST,  1901 


CONTENTS 


The  Early  Dutch  Settlers 

2  7  C- 

j  j 

PAGE 

2-28 
■J 

First  ships  from  Holland,  235  ;  descriptions  of  New 

Amsterdam,  236—7  ;  wealth  of  citizens,  238. 

Comfortable  Homes  and  Early  Furniture 

2  39- 

242 

A  Typical  Dutch  House  .... 

242- 

244 

Home  of  Cornelis  Steenwyck 

245- 

247 

Chairs,  Forms  and  Stools  .... 

248- 

250 

JJ  Hj  1J  0  ,     ±J  r>  Lf  0  1  r,  /V  1 J  0  ,     llvJUor-nULU       V„    1  LlNMLo     .A.  j.\  xJ 

CHILDREN  S  rURNITURE 

250- 

252 

T  T                           f  "                           A  T            T  A 

rlOUSE  OF  L-ORNELIS  VAN  1JYKE 

253" 

254 

Home  of  Captain  Kidd  .... 

255- 

•256 

MARQUETRY  AND  MAHOGANY 

256- 

258 

Oriental  Goods  and  Furniture  . 

25S- 

259 

rORCELAIN  AND  LHINAWARE  .... 

259~ 

•261 

Pictures  ....... 

26 1- 

•263 

Chimney  and  Cupboard  Cloths  . 

263 

The  Kas  ....... 

264- 

-267 

Usefulness  and  value,  264;  examples  owned  in  New 

Amsterdam,  265;  the  ball  foot  or  "  knot,"  265-6  ;  the 

glass  case  and  frame,  266. 

Early  Importations  ..... 

267- 

■268 

Woods  Used  for  Furniture 

268- 

-269 

Wealth  of  the  Dutch  .... 

269 

The  Doten-Kammer  ..... 

269 

Colonial  New  York  ..... 

270 

CONTENTS 


Furniture  in  the  Early  Eighteenth  Cen- 
tury 

Walnut  and  olive-wood,  27  I  ;  Dutch  styles  in  fashion, 
271—2;  homes  of  Captain  Giles  Shelley  and  George 
Duncan,  272-4. 

Home  of  Governor  Burnet  . 
Development  of  the  Splat  and  Advent  of 

Mahogany  Furniture 
Upholsterers  and  Bed-Furnishings 
Paper-hangings  ..... 
Architecture  and  Fashions 
Woods  and  Metal  Mounts  . 
Cabinet-makers  ..... 
Specimens  of  Seats  .... 
Importations  ..... 

Looking-glasses,  ornaments  and  engravings,  292;  mar- 
ble tables  and  other  furniture,  293—4;  carpets  and  floor- 
cloths, 295—6;  fire-places  and  chimney-pieces,  296—7 

China  and  Glassware 
Tea-Table  Appointments  . 
Ornamental  China 
Luxuries  of  the  Dressing  Table 
Desk  Furnishings 
Clocks  and  Clock-makers  . 
Music  and  Musical  Instruments. 
Cards  and  Other  Games,  and  Toys 
Needlework  .... 
Looking-glasses  and  Sconces 
Lamps,  Lanterns  and  Candlesticks 


270-274 


274-276 

277-  278 

278-  280 
280-282 

283-  284 

284-  286 
287-288 
289-292 
292-297 


297-299 

299-  300 

300-  301 

301-  302 

•  3°2 

302-  304 

304-306 

307-  308 

308-  310 

310-  311 

311-  312 


List  of  Illustrations 

WITH  CRITICAL  NOTES  ON  MANY  OF 
THE      PLATES      BY      RUSSELL  STURGIS 


ALL   THE   NOTES   FURNISHED   BY    MR.  STURGIS 
ARE   FOLLOWED    BY    HIS  INITIALS,   R.  S. 


Frontispiece:  Sofa      ....       facing  iii 

Carved  sofa,  about  1760,  the  covering  of  French  tapestry,  Gobelins  or  Beauvais,  of  the 
same  or  a  somewhat  later  epoch.     R.  S. 

KAS        .......  FACING  235 

Cupboard,  with  two  drawers  in  the  base  and  two  in  the  excessively  large  cornice,  probably 
provincial  work  of  about  1  700,  the  reminiscence  of  the  simple  design  of  three-quarters  of 
a  century  earlier  still  lingering  ;  but  the  sculpture  late  and  florid  ;  perhaps  not  originally 
belonging  to  this  piece.     R.  S. 


Carved  Oak  Cupboard 


FACING  2 


Oak  cupboard,  probably  about  1575  and  having  in  its  frame,  proportions,  mouldings,  and 
ironwork  the  suggestion  of  a  still  earlier  date.  It  seems  like  German  work  of  one  of  the 
Rhine  towns,  from  which  it  might  easily  have  been  taken  to  Holland.     R.  S. 


Annetje  Jans's  Chair 


Chair  with  black  painted  frame  and  rush-bottom  seat.  The  top  rail  is  bowed  ;  the  splat, 
jar-shaped  ;  and  the  front  legs  turned  and  ending  in  hoof  feet.     E.  S. 


38 


24O 


Old  Dutch  Chair  ...... 

A  heavy  and  solid  chair  painted  black.  The  front  legs  and  front  stretchers  are  turned  ; 
the  turned  posts  terminate  in  plain  legs  ;  there  are  four  slats  and  the  top  rail  is  arched. 
The  seat  is  rich  crimson  damask.     E.  S. 


241 


Two  Chairs         .......  249 

The  first  is  similar  enough  to  one  on  page  49  to  give  it  the  same  date.  It  is  also  similar 
to  those  on  page  188.  The  front  legs  and  stretchers  of  the  second  chair  are  similar,  but 
the  presence  of  curves  shows  that  it  is  a  transitional  chair.  A  little  further  development 
will  produce  the  chair  to  the  left  on  page  1  84.  This  kind  of  chair  was  frequently  covered 
with  leather.     E.  S. 


Dutch  Church  Stool  ....       facing  250 

A  small  stool  about  two  feet  long  and  one  foot  high.     It  is  painted  black  and  dated  1702. 
It  bears  a  picture  of  the  Last  Judgment  and  a  Dutch  verse.     E.  S. 


vii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Child's  Chair  and  Mahogany  Tea-Table  .        .  253 

The  chair,  very  solid  and  heavy  and  painted  black,  resembles  in  some  respects  the  chair  on 
page  241.  Its  dark  red  seat  is  much  worn.  Tables  of  the  model  shown  here  were  in 
use  in  Dutch  houses  considerably  before  1700.  One  with  four  legs  is  to  be  seen  in  an  in- 
terior by  David  Teniers  in  the  Prado,  Madrid.     E.  S. 

Warming-pan,    Foot-warmers,    Trunk    and  a 

"ScHEPPEl"  ....  FACING  254 

The  trunk  and  foot-warmers  may  be  compared  with  the  illustration  facing  page  224.  The 
warming-pan  is  of  copper;  the  "  scheppel  is  a  grain  measure  used  in  the  New  Nether- 
lands.    E.  S. 

Mahogany  Table        ......  257 

A  table  said  to  have  been  brought  to  New  York  in  i668.  It  is  of  mahogany  and  made 
in  the  old  style  of  the  oak  tables  with  turned  legs  and  stretchers.  The  chairs  on  the  same 
plate  are  much  later.     E.  S. 

Cradles    and     Children's    Chairs    and  Fire 

Screens     .        .        .    '    .        .       facing  258 

Cradle  of  simple  carpenter  work  made  of  four  pieces  of  plank  (for  ends  and  rockers)  and 
fine  pieces  of  board  for  sides  and  bottom.  Handles  are  provided  by  sawed  out  piercings  in 
ends  and  sides,  and  one  of  these  has  split  away  and  has  not  been  repaired. 
Child's  rocking  chair,  made  of  four  pieces  of  board  and  two  pieces  of  heavy  plank  for 
rockers.  The  two  small  holes  in  the  arms  of  the  chair  are  provided  for  a  strap  or  cord. 
A  great  deal  of  interesting  and  possibly  tasteful  work,  which  might  be  produced  in  country 
districts,  is  rejected  or  made  impossible  by  the  modern  disposition  to  have  everything  city- 
fied  in  appearance.  Good  taste  in  furniture,  and  the  cheap  imitation  of  costly  price  are 
incompatible  and  it  seems  they  cannot  exist  side  by  side.     R.  S. 

Cradle  covered  with  leather  and  dated.  Pieces  made  of  simple  planking  and  boards, 
could  be  covered  with  leather  or  a  textile  material  receiving  in  this  way  more  finished 
and  furniture-like  appearance.  When  there  were  no  skillful  workmen,  the  local  car- 
penter having  no  cunning  beyond  a  simple  handicraft  of  saw,  chisel  and  plane,  such  a 
device  suggested  by  the  covered  travelling  trunks  of  the  period  would  be  resorted  to.  The 
brass-headed  nails  were  easy  to  bring  from  a  distance.     R.  S. 

Mahogany  Table       .        .  .        facing  260 

An  unusually  handsome  specimen  with  regard  to  the  work  and  design.  It  is  made  after 
the  style  of  the  folding  oak  tables,  with  legs  that  move  out  to  support  the  leaves  when 
raised.  The  wood  is  a  very  dark  and  rich  red.  Its  height  is  29^  inches;  its  length,  6 
feet,  6  inches;  and  it  is  5  feet,  1 1  inches,  across  the  shortest  diameter.     E.  S. 

Marquetry  Cupboard  and  Drawers    .     facing  262 

Chest  of  drawers  with  closed  cupboard;  inlaid  with  light-coloured  wood  and,  probably, 
ivory.  The  style  of  design  is  of  1675;  but  this  was  one  of  those  styles  which  became,  at 
once,  a  recognized  new  step  in  decorative  art,  and  the  designs  which  were  made  during 
the  first  quarter-century  have  been  repeated,  almost  without  change,  ever  since. 
It  is  noticeable  that  the  full  development  of  convex  and  concave  curves  in  the  chest  of 
drawers,  a  well-known  characteristic  of  the  Paris-made  furniture  of  the  time  of  Louis 
XIV,  is  here  shown  only  in  the  frontispiece;  while  the  flank  is  as  square  and  flat  below 
as  it  is  above.  This  is  an  artistic  fault,  but  as  a  curious  mark  of  the  Dutch  re-issuing  of 
the  statelier  French  design  it  is  very  interesting  and  not  to  be  wished  away.      R.  S. 

Glass  Case  on  Frame  (Marquetry)    .     facing  264 

Glass-fronted  bookcase  resting  on  table  frame.  Inlaid,  light-coloured  wood  on  dark 
background,  probably  about   1725.     The  style  seems  to  be  that  weakened  or  lowered 


viii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


modification  of  the  full  Dutch  Inlaid  Cabinet  style  seen  in  plate  facing  262.  The  more 
slender  forms  of  the  legs,  combined  with  the  ungraceful  shape  of  the  glazed  case  itself  and 
the  complicated  straining-piece  below,  all  indicate  a  decadent  style  in  need  of  a  re-awaken- 
ing influence.     R.  S. 

Walnut  Kas         .....     facing  266 

Chest  of  drawers  with  closed  cupboard,  plain  cabinet  work,  of  any  date  from  1750  to 
1800.  A  piece  of  considerable  interest  as  exemplifying  the  simpler  style  of  work  which 
was  hardly  ever  wholly  abandoned  for  domestic  work,  after  its  introduction  early  in  the 
eighteenth  century.     R.  S. 

Mahogany  Kas  .......  266 

Chest  of  drawers  and  cupboard,  like  the  last,  but  still  more  simple,  and  somewhat  less 
elegant  in  design.     R.  S. 

Kas  of  Marquetry  with  Delft  Plaques    facing  270 

Wardrobe  or  cabinet  solidly  built  of  dark  wood,  the  surface  inlaid  with  light  colored  woods 
and  ivory  and  having  about  fifty  circular  plaques  of  Delft  ware,  each  separately  framed  with 
delicate  mouldings  in  slight  projection  from  the  general  surface.  The  color  of  the  plaques 
is  in  each  case  blue  and  white  and  these  are  therefore  lighter  than  the  piece  :  the  inlays 
forming  a  third  number  in  the  proportion.  The  sincere  love  of  the  Dutch  workmen  for 
effective  decoration,  while  still  they  retained  a  feeling  for  domestic  simplicity,  is  evidenced 
in  this  piece.  It  is  like  the  English  Jacobean  pieces;  which  we  contrast  for  their  simplic- 
ity with  the  statelier  contemporaneous  furniture  of  the  royal  and  princely  households  of 
France  and  Germany.  A  courtier  of  Louis  XIV  would  not  have  esteemed  such  a  combina- 
tion of  pottery  and  woodwork  as  this  ;  but  the  Dutch  were  fond  of  the  idea  and  they  some- 
times used  costly  Chinese  plates  and  saucers  encrusted  in  exactly  the  same  manner.     R.  S. 

Old  Chest  with  Drawer    .....  270 

A  rough  and  plain  painted  chest  with  a  drawer.  It  has  brass  handles  at  each  end,  two 
locks,  and  the  drawer  is  furnished  with  brass  drop  handles  of  very  old  design,  pendent  from 
a  circular  brass  plate.     E.  S. 

Three  Chairs      .......  271 

The  chair  in  the  centre  is  of  oak.  Similar  chairs  appear  on  page  6,  and  facing  page  8  and 
page  286.  The  other  two  are  of  the  Anglo-Dutch  school,  with  cabriole  legs,  ball-and- 
claw  foot,  acanthus  carved  on  the  knee,  the  top  rail  bowed,  with  carved  shell  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  splat  pierced.  They  may  be  compared  with  chairs  on  pages  99,  101,  108,  137, 
272,  289  and  309.     E.  S. 

Marquetry  Cupboard         .        ,        .       facing  272 

Bookcase,  upper  half  with  glazed  doors  ;  frame  and  panels  inlaid  in  the  Dutch  manner 
(see  plates  facing  262  and  270).  The  present  lights  of  glass  are  too  large  to  be  the  orig- 
inal pieces,  and  the  case  loses  much  of  its  character  by  the  change.  The  inlay  is  one  of 
fine  quality  and  good  design  ;  the  parrots  in  swinging  perches  are  noticeable.     R.  S. 

Four  Chairs        .......  272 

The  tallest  chair,  painted  black,  may  be  of  oak,  for  it  is  similar  to  many  already  described. 
The  chair  to  the  extreme  right  is  similar  to  those  just  described.  The  third  specimen  is  of 
about  the  same  period,  but  has  straight  legs  and  stretchers  ;  while  the  fourth  chair  is  one 
of  Sheraton's  models.     E.  S. 

Mahogany  Chairs  with  Turkey-work  Bottoms 

facing  274 

Two  handsome  examples  belonging  to  the  early  Chippendale  school.  In  proportion  and  in 
detail,  they  are  unusually  fine.    The  simple  jar-shaped  splat  is  boldly  and  gracefully  pierced 

ix 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGF. 

and  carved;  the  top  rail  is  carved  and  "  embowed."  The  two  front  feet  end  in  a  very  fine 
ball,  and  the  claw  clasping  it  is  firm  and  strongly  cut.  The  seats  of  Turkey-work  are  in 
pleasing  patterns  of  gay  colors.     E.  S. 

Plate-Back  Chair      ......  276 

An  interesting  example  of  Dutch  design,  with  cabriole  legs,  hoof  feet,  one  stretcher,  em- 
bowed  top  rail,  and  jar-shaped  splat,  forming  a  solid  plate,  unpierced.     E.  S. 

Dutch  Chairs     .......  277 

Three  chairs  of  the  same  period  as  the  above  ;  the  central  one  is  an  early  form  of  the 
chair  that  often  occurs  in  the  American  inventories  as  the  "  crown  back  chair,"  so-called 
from  the  shape  given  by  its  general  outline.     E.  S. 

Mahogany  Table        ....       facing  278 

This  valuable  specimen  belongs  to  the  same  period  as  the  one  facing  page  1 1 8.  It  is  a  fine 
piece  of  wood.  The  table  has  two  leaves  supported  by  legs  that  move  out  or  in  at  pleasure. 
The  ball-and-claw  feet  are  boldly  carved.     E.  S. 

Settee         ........  279 

This  piece  depends  upon  its  shape  and  its  upholstery  tor  its  effect  and  not  its  woodwork, 
for  its  legs  only  are  visible.  These  are  cabriole  in  shape  and  carved,  ending  in  the  ball- 
and-claw.     E.  S. 

Mahogany  Bedstead  .        .        .        .        .  .281 

The  posts  are  carved  and  turned,  tapering  gracefully  toward  the  top.  Unfortunately, 
there  is  neither  cornice,  nor  tester  to  give  to  the  bed  its  proper  finish.  The  blue  and 
white  curtains  are  of  the  same  age  as  the  bedstead.     E.  S. 

Gobelin  Tapestry  Chairs   .        .        .       facing  282 

Two  armchairs  belonging  to  the  same  set  as  the  sofa  (frontispiece)  and  covered  with  sim- 
ilar tapestry.     R.  S. 

Four  Chairs        .....       facing  286 

The  chair  in  the  upper  left-hand  corner,  of  mahogany  with  yellow  damask  bottom,  be- 
longs to  the  same  period  as  those  facing  page  274.  The  splat  is  ornate,  and  the  foot 
ends  in  the  ball-and-claw.  The  chair  was  brought  to  New  York  in  1763. 
The  oak  arm-chair  next  to  it  is  richly  carved  ;  the  legs  form  with  the  front  rail  a  graceful 
X  and  bear  a  shield  with  a  lion  rampant.  The  stamped  red-leather  seat  is  fastened  with 
brass  nails,  and  a  cushion  of  the  same  material  is  held  to  the  back  by  brass  rings  and  a  cord. 
The  chair  in  the  lower  left-hand  corner  resembles  many  Dutch  models  already  described, 
save  for  the  two  handles,  or  ears,  on  either  side  of  the  back. 
The  chair  in  the  lower  right  corner  is  similar  to  the  one  on  page  271.     E.  S. 

Mahogany  Chairs       ......  289 

Both  chairs  are  a  later  stage  of  development  than  those  on  page  277.     The  seats  of  both 
chairs  are  Turkey-work.     E.  S. 

Three  Chairs     .......  290 

The  two  to  the  left  belong  to  one  set.  The  splat  is  pierced  and  in  the  centre  an  urn  or 
vase  appears  neatly  carved.  The  other  chair  has  its  splat  pierced  in  a  graceful  tracery  de- 
sign.    E.  S. 

x 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Chair  ........  291 

A  somewhat  curious  variety,  with  its  straight  legs  ending  in  dog's  feet,  rush-bottom,  bow- 
shaped  top-rail  and  pierced  and  carved  splat  quite  uncommon  as  to  outline.     E.  S. 

Old  Oak  Chair  ......  292 

A  chair  of  the  type  already  shown  on  pages  183  and  190.  The  feet  are  similar  to  those 
of  a  chair  on  page  193.    In  all  probability  the  original  back  and  seat  were  of  cane.    E.  S. 

Old  "Wing"  or  "Saddle-Cheek"  Chair  .       .  293 

A  bedroom  chair  with  stuffed  back,  seat  and  arms.  The  mahogany  legs  are  short  cabriole 
with  ball-and-claw  feet.  The  covering  is  a  kind  of  brown  matting.  Another  example 
of  an  earlier  "  wing  "  chair  faces  page  184.     E.  S. 

Corner  Chair     .......  294 

A  simpler  specimen  faces  page  122,  with  solid  splat;  here  the  splat  is  pierced,  but  more 
elaborately  than  that  on  page  123.  It  differs  from  these  examples  in  having  ball-and- 
claw  feet  and  cabriole  legs,  as  well  as  in  the  curious  ornamental  pendents  to  the  rail.   E.  S. 

Two  Chairs        .......  295 

The  one  to  the  left  is  of  the  same  period  as  those  on  pages  183  and  190;  the  second 
chair  is  Dutch,  and  similar  to  those  on  page  277  with  the  exceptions  of  its  arms.  The 
splat  has  been  covered  unfortunately  with  the  same  material  as  the  seat,  as  was  the  chair 
on  page  101 .     E.  S. 

Marquetry  Chest  of  Drawers  and  Glass  Case 

facing  296 

Dutch  inlaid  decoration  of  fine  quality.  The  piece  is  to  be  compared  with  that  shown  in 
plate  facing  262,  and  is  like  that  in  many  of  its  details.  The  decorative  anthemions  on 
the  ends,  springing  from  conventional  vases  resting  on  cult  de  lampe,  are  of  great  beauty. 
R.  S. 

Oval  Painted  Table        .        .        .        facing  298 

Table  with  painted  top;  probably  about  1780.  These  painted  pieces  have  a  double  origin, 
first  in  the  inlays  of  coloured  woods  which,  in  Italy  and  later  in  the  Low  Countries,  had 
been  a  recognized  system  of  decoration  since  the  fifteenth  century,  second,  in  the  magni- 
ficent French  work  of  the  years  1720  to  1770,  of  which  the  celebrated  painting  in 
Verms  Martin  is  the  most  brilliant.  Once  established,  this  fashion  of  painting  the  larger 
surfaces  lasted  until  1840,  and  much  in  reality  and  more  in  possibility  was  lost  when  that 
fashion  disappeared.     R.  S. 

Two  Clocks       .....        facing  302 

Tall  clock,  in  lacquered  case;  the  designs  in  painted  lacquer  appear  to  be  really  of  Japan- 
ese work,  and  it  may  well  be  that  the  case  had  been  sent  out  to  Japan  for  the  purpose. 
R.  S. 

Bracket  clock,  the  case  wholly  of  metal,  the  front  and  sides  elaborately  worked  in  pierced 
patterns,  the  dial  inserted  flush  with  the  front  plate  is  modern:  the  clock  is  held  by  hooks 
to  a  strong  horizontal  moulding.     R.  S. 

Two   Bracket  or   Pedestal  Clocks  .        .        .  305 

Of  excellent  design.  The  one  to  the  left  contains  arches  at  each  side  carved  in  lattice- 
work; the  second  clock,  made  by  Robert  Henderson  of  London,  has  several  chimes.  The 
latter  is  richly  ornamented  with  metal.     E.  S. 

xi 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Parlour  Organ  ......  307 

This  example  is  52  inches  high  and  26  inches  wide.  The  case  is  mahogany  and  the 
pipes  are  ornamented  with  drapery.  A  bellows  supplies  the  wind.  The  instrument  plays 
ten  English  tunes.     E.  S. 


Mahogany  Card  Table  and  Chair  .        .        .  309 

A  table  that  is  unusual  in  having  five  legs,  one  of  which  draws  out  to  support  the  leaf. 
The  feet  are  claw-and-ball.  The  chair,  also  of  mahogany,  is  similar  to  many  already  de- 
scribed.    E.  S. 


Screen  worked  in  1776      .        .        .        .        .  311 

The  standard  is  of  mahogany  of  the  pillar-and-claw  type;  the  legs  end  in  the  "snake 
foot";  and  above  the  regular  patterns  of  now  faded  colours  the  date  1776  is  worked. 
E.  S. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Part  IV 


KAS,  WALNUT,  VENEERED  WITH  MAHOGANY 

Owned  by  Miss  Katharine  Fan  Rensselaer,  VUe  House,  Rensselaer,  N.  Y.     See  page  26J. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF 
OUR  FOREFATHERS 

PART  IV: 

Dutch,  and  English.  Periods 

NEW    YORK    FROM    1 6  I  5    TO    I  776 

HE  first  pieces  of  furniture  that  were  landed 
on  the  shores  of  the  Hudson  were  probably 
brought  in  the  Fortune,  by  Hendrick  Chris- 
tiansen of  Cleep,  who  founded  in  1 6 1 5  a 
settlement  consisting  of  four  houses  with  a 
^^l^^lTn  population  of  thirty  persons.  The  Tiger  also 
came  about  the  same  time  under  Captain  Adrian  Blok,  and 
these  two  had  received  from  the  States-General  of  Holland 
the  monopoly  of  trade  with  New  Netherland,  consisting 
principally  in  furs.  These  ships  were  followed  by  the 
Little  Fox,  the  Nightingale,  and  again  the  Fortune.  In 
1623,  the  Privileged  West  India  Company  sent  out  thirty 
families,  chiefly  Walloons;  and,  in  1625,  the  colonial  au- 
thorities sent  a  vessel  with  six  families  and  their  household 
furniture.    The  population  was  now  about  two  hundred.  In 

235 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


1626,  the  Arms  of  Amsterdam  arrived,  as  well  as  the  Sea 
Mew,  with  Peter  Minuit  who  got  the  island  of  Manhattan. 
The  Arms  of  Amsterdam  took  back  to  Holland  8,250  skins 
of  beaver,  otter,  mink,  lynx  and  rat,  together  with  much 
oak  timber  and  nutwood  or  hickory.  This  trading-post 
was  therefore  now  a  success,  but  it  could  not  be  called  a 
town  yet.  Twenty  years  later,  when  Father  Jogues  visited 
New  Amsterdam  and  was  received  by  Governor  Kieft,  he 
wrote  :  "  There  is  a  fort  to  serve  as  the  commencement  of 
a  town  to  be  built  here  and  to  be  called  New  Amster- 
dam. .  .  .  Within  the  fort  there  was  a  stone  church 
which  was  quite  large,  the  house  of  the  governor  whom 
they  call  Director-General,  quite  neatly  built  of  brick,  the 
storehouses  and  barracks.  On  this  island  of  Manhate,  and 
in  its  environs,  there  may  well  be  four  or  five  hundred  men 
of  different  sects  and  nations  :  the  Director-General  told 
me  that  there  were  men  of  eighteen  kinds  of  languages  ; 
they  are  scattered  here  and  there  on  the  river  above  and 
below,  as  the  beauty  and  convenience  of  the  spot  invited 
each  to  settle ;  some  mechanics,  however,  who  ply  their 
trade,  are  ranged  under  the  fort,  all  the  others  being  ex- 
posed to  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  who,  in  the  year 
1643,  while  I  was  there,  had  actually  killed  some  two- 
score  Hollanders,  and  burnt  many  houses  and  barns  full  of 
wheat  ....  When  any  one  first  comes  to  settle  in  the 
country  they  lend  him  horses,  cows,  etc. ;  they  give  him 
provisions,  all  which  he  returns  as  soon  as  he  is  at  ease  ; 
and  as  to  the  land,  after  ten  years  he  pays  to  the  West 
India  Company  the  tenth  of  the  produce  which  he 
raises." 

Rensselaerswyck,  now  Albany,  he  describes  as  a  colony 
of  about  a  hundred  persons  residing  in  some  twenty  or 

236 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


thirty  houses  constructed  merely  of  boards,  and  thatched, 
there  being  as  yet  no  masonry  except  in  the  chimneys. 

When  Governor  Stuyvesant  arrrived  in  New  Amster- 
dam in  1647,  the  town  contained  about  150  dwellings 
with  about  700  inhabitants.  Most  of  the  buildings  were 
built  of  wood  and  thatched  with  reeds,  and  some  had 
wooden  chimneys.  Sanitary  conditions  were  almost  in- 
conceivably filthy,  and  stringent  measures  were  taken  for 
the  construction  of  "  suitable  and  convenient  houses  within 
nine  months."  There  was,  consequently,  great  improve- 
ment in  the  town  during  the  next  ten  years.  Adrian  Van 
der  Donck,  writing  about  1654,  describes  the  fine  kitchen 
gardens  of  the  New  Netherlands,  and  mentions  peaches, 
apricots,  cherries,  figs,  almonds,  persimmons,  plums,  and 
gooseberries,  as  well  as  quinces  from  England.  Among 
the  flowers  introduced,  he  enumerates  various  species  of  red 
and  white  roses,  eglantine,  gilly-flowers,  jenoffelins,  various 
tulips,  crown  imperials,  white  lilies,  the  fritillaria,  anemo- 
nes, baredames,  violets,  marigolds  and  many  others.  In 
1656,  there  were  120  houses  with  extensive  gardens,  and 
1,000  inhabitants.  In  this  year,  the  first  article  of  the  con- 
ditions offered  by  the  Burgomasters  of  the  city  of  Amster- 
dam to  agreement  with  the  West  India  Company  reads  : 
"  The  colonists  who  are  going  (to  New  Amsterdam)  shall 
be  transported  in  suitable  vessels  with  their  families,  house- 
hold furniture  and  other  necessaries."  The  majority  of 
these  colonists  were  of  the  poorer  class,  but  wealthy  mer- 
chants came  here  in  increasing  numbers,  and  the  trading- 
post  soon  became  a  busy  mart.  With  its  extensive  water 
front,  streams,  canals,  and  meadows,  the  transplanted  Dutch 
town  became  very  homelike.  Most  of  the  houses  were  of 
one  story  with  two  rooms,  and,  rough  as  most  of  the  fur- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


niture  undoubtedly  was,  yet  a  good  deal  had  come  across 
the  water.  Articles  of  luxury  were  already  on  the  spot 
and  in  demand.  In  the  Albany  records  for  1654,  we 
read  :  "  Jan  Gouw  and  Harmen  Janse  wish  to  sell  a  certain 
casket  inlaid  with  ebony  and  other  woods."  The  payment 
was  to  be  made  in  "  good  whole  beavers  .  .  .  within 
twenty-four  hours,  without  an  hour  longer  delay."  It  was 
bought  by  Jacob  Janse  Flodder  for  thirty  beavers  and  nine- 
teen guilders.  This  handsome  casket,  therefore,  fetched 
about  $125,  as  beavers  were  then  worth  from  $3.50  to  $4 
each. 

An  example  of  carved  oak  furniture,  such  as  may  have 
been  owned  by  the  wealthy  Hollanders  at  the  time  of  the 
first  settlement  of  New  Netherland,  faces  this  page.  It 
is  a  curious  oak  cupboard  on  a  frame,  left  by  Miss  Mary 
Campbell  to  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society. 

When  New  Orange  finally  passed  into  English  posses- 
sion in  1674,  ninety-four  of  its  citizens  owned  estates  of 
more  than  a  thousand  guilders.  Twenty-two  of  these  were 
between  five  and  ten  thousand  guilders  each  ;  and  the 
wealthiest  were  the  following:  Johannes  van  Burgh,  14,- 
000;  Jacob  Leisler,  15,000;  Johannes  de  Peyster,  15,000; 
Cornelis  Van  Ruyven,  18,000;  Jeronimus  Ebbing,  30,000; 
Jno.  Lawrence,  40,000  ;  Olaf  Stevenson  Van  Cortland, 
45,000  ;  Nicholas  de  Meyer,  50,000  ;  Cornelis  Steenwyck, 
50,000;  and  Hendrick  Philipsen,  80,000. 

In  1677,  there  were  368  houses  and  3,430  persons  in 
New  York;  in  1  686,  the  numbers  had  increased  to  480  and 
3,800  respectively.  In  1689,  Albany  had  150  houses. 
Thus,  at  this  date,  the  New  York  dwelling-house  harboured 
from  nine  to  ten  persons  on  an  average.     Though  the 


CARVED  OAK  CUPBOARD  WITH  DRAWERS,  ON  A  FRAME 

Owned  by  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


rooms  were  few,  therefore,  they  had  to  be  large.  The 
house  of  the  prosperous  merchant  was  of  two  stories  and 
contained  seven  or  eight  rooms.  As  a  rule,  the  New  York 
inventories  do  not  give  the  contents  of  separate  rooms,  but 
the  house  of  John  Winder  (died  1675)  ^s  one  exception.  Be- 
sides the  shop,  it  contained  six  rooms.  In  the  hall  were 
four  Spanish  tables  covered  with  two  leather  Bristol  car- 
pets and  two  of  Turkey-work,  a  framed  table,  twelve  Tur- 
key-work chairs  and  one  leather  chair,  two  trunks,  two 
stands,  two  looking-glasses,  a  screen,  six  earthen  pots,  brass- 
headed  andirons,  and  a  pair  of  bellows. 

The  boys'  room  contained  a  bed  and  a  chair.  Mr. 
Winder's  chamber  was  furnished  with  a  bedstead,  six 
child's  beds,  two  stands,  two  chests  of  drawers,  four  stools 
with  covers,  two  chairs,  a  close-stool,  a  fire-pan,  andirons, 
dogs  and  brass  tongs.  The  curtains  were  of  wrought  dim- 
ity, a  mantel-cloth  adorned  the  chimney,  and  in  the 
drawers  was  a  lot  of  household  linen,  besides  green  cloth 
and  new  and  old  tapestry  for  hangings.  The  shop  was 
furnished  for  living  as  well  as  trade  purposes.  It  contained 
a  bedstead  with  purple  curtains  and  valance,  four  chairs, 
two  stools,  and  a  glass  case.  The  back  room  had  a  bed- 
stead and  curtains  lined  with  sarcenet,  six  chairs,  a  table  and 
carpet,  a  looking-glass  and  andirons.  Grey  hangings  and 
two  chimney-cloths  adorned  this  room.  Two  bedsteads 
and  a-  looking-glass  were  in  the  maid's  chamber ;  and  a 
table,  a  form  and  six  chairs  in  the  kitchen.  The  house 
was  liberally  supplied  with  the  usual  linen,  pewter,  earthen- 
ware and  utensils.  Mr.  Winder  also  possessed  447  ounces 
of  silver  plate  valued  at       1  1-15-0. 

The  above  house  has  an  atmosphere  of  solid  comfort. 
There  is  little  of  the  Dutch  feeling  about  it;  it  is  typical 

239 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  the  English  merchant.     A  glance  at 
the  homes  of  others  of  this  class  at  the 
beginning  of  the  English  rule  shows  the 
same  conditions.     Nathaniel  Sylvester's 
furniture  (1680)  included  four  tables, 
six  green,  ten  leather  and  twelve  other 
chairs,  a  clock,  a  Turkey-work  couch, 
ten  feather  beds  and  furniture,  two  cup- 
boards of  drawers,  four 
looking-glasses,  two  great 
chests,  and  two  great 
trunks.   Robert  Story  died 
in  1  680  worth  ^7,572-16- 
6.       He    owned   an  old 
ebony  chair  worth  ^4,  a 
large  chest  of  drawers,  ^5, 
and  a  large  table,  ^5,  both 
of  black  walnut.  His 
rooms   were   hung  with 
"dornix"  (see  page  17). 

Early  chairs  are  shown 
on  this  and  the  next 
page.  The  first,  with  black 
painted  frame  and  rush-bottom  seat,  jar-shaped  splat,  bowed 
top  rail  and  front  legs  turned  and  ending  in  hoof  feet,  is  a 
type  frequently  seen  in  the  works  of  the  Dutch  masters. 
This  chair  is  said  to  have  originally  belonged  to  Annetje 
Jans,  who  came  to  the  New  Netherlands  in  1630.  She  was 
first  the  wife  of  Roelof  Jansen  and  after  his  death  was  mar- 
ried to  Dominie  Everadus  Bogardus.  Her  bouwery,  or  farm, 
was  the  land  on  which  Trinity  church  now  stands.  The 
chair  is  the  property  of  Mrs.  Blanche  Douw  Allen,  of  New 

240 


ANNETJE   JANS  S  CHAIR 
Owned  by  Mrs.  Blanche  Douw  Allen,  New  York 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


York,  having  descended  to  her  through 
the  Douw  family.  A  similar  chair  is 
owned  by  Mr.  Clarence  Townsend,  of 
New  York. 

The  chair  represented  on  this  page 
is  painted  black  and  is  very  heavy  and 
solid ;  it  has  four  slats,  and  simple  top 
rail  arched ;  its  turned  posts  terminate 
in  plain  legs,  the  front  legs  and  front 
stretchers  are  turned.  The  seat  is  hand- 
some crimson  damask.  This  chair  has 
long  been  in  the  Pruyn  fam- 
ily, and  is  owned  by  Mr. 
John  V.  L.  Pruyn. 

Facing  page  286  is  an 
oak  armchair  of  beautiful 
design,  the  front  rail  and 
ixont  legs  forming  a  grace- 
ful X,  carved  with  a  leaf 
pattern,  and  a  shield  bearing 
a  lion  rampant.  The  seat  is 
of  dark  red  leather  fastened 
by  brass  nails.  A  cushion  of 
the  same  material  is  held  to 
the  sides  by  brass  rings  and 
cords.  This  artistic  design  is 
familiar  through  the  pictures  of  the  Dutch  masters.  It  be- 
longs to  the  estate  of  Mary  Parker  Corning,  and  is  now  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society. 

The  difference  between  New  York  and  New  England 
houses  was  sufficiently  marked  to  strike  a  stranger.  In 
Madame  Knight's  "Journal  (1707),  we  have  direct  testi- 


OLD   DUTCH  CHAIR 
Owned  by  Mr.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  New  York. 


241 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


mony  :  "  The  Cittie  of  New  York  is  a  pleasant,  well  com- 
pacted place  situated  on  a  commodious  River  wch  is  a  fine 
harbour  for  shipping.  The  Buildings,  Brick  generaly, 
very  stately  and  high,  though  not  altogether  like  ours  in 
Boston.  The  Bricks  in  some  of  the  Houses  are  of  divers 
Coullers  and  laid  in  Checkers,  being  glazed  look  very 
agreeable.  The  inside  of  them  are  neat  to  admiration,  the 
wooden  work,  for  only  the  walls  are  plastered,  and  the 
Sumers  *  and  Gist  are  plained  and  kept  very  white  scowr'd, 
as  so  is  all  the  partitions  if  made  of  Bords.  The  fire- 
places have  no  Jambs  (as  ours  have).  But  the  Backs  run 
flush  with  the  walls,  and  the  Hearth  is  of  Tyles,  and  is  as 
farr  out  into  the  Room  at  the  Ends  as  before  the  fire,  wch 
is  generally  Five  foot  in  the  Low'r  rooms,  and  the  peice 
over  where  the  Mantle  tree  should  be  is  made  as  ours  with 
Joyners  work,  and  I  suppose  is  fasten'd  to  iron  rodds  in- 
side. The  house  where  the  Vendue  was,  had  Chimney 
Corners  like  ours,  and  they  and  the  hearths  were  laid  wth 
the  finest  tile  that  I  ever  see,  and  the  stair  cases  laid  all 
with  white  tile,  which  is  ever  clean,  and  so  are  the  walls 
of  the  Kitchen  wch  had  a  Brick  floor." 

The  above  description  was  written  at  the  end  of  the 
period  now  under  review,  when  the  town  had  not  yet  lost 
much  of  its  Dutch  character.  The  arrangement  of  the 
common  living-room  of  the  ordinary  Dutch  home  can  be 
readily  reproduced.  The  most  striking  feature  was  the 
ornamental  chimney-piece,  five  feet  square,  as  Mme.  Knight 
above  explains.  The  Dutch  love  of  carving  is  well  known. 
When  the  owner  was  wealthy,  the  chimney-piece  would 
be  quite  elaborate  with  caryatides  surmounted  by  the  con- 

*  Sumers  is  the  "central  beam  supporting  the  joist,  such  as  is  now  sometimes  called  the  bearing 
beam." 

242 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


soles  supporting  the  oak  entablature  ornamented  with  mo- 
tives picked  out  in  ebony,  or  wood  stained  in  imitation.  On 
the  cornice,  stood  various  vessels  of  brass  repousse  and  Delft 
ware.  The  hearth  had  a  large  cast-iron  ornamented  back,  the 
sides  being  faced  with  faience  tiles  often  representing  per- 
sonages in  contemporay  costume.  Andirons  with  brass 
handles,  heads  of  dogs,  or  lions,  an  iron  rack  for  the  fire- 
irons,  pot-hooks,  spits,  a  great  "  kettle,"  .a  pair  of  bellows, 
a  warming-pan,  and  pewter,  brass,  or  iron  candlesticks  were 
all  to  be  found  about  this  important  feature  of  the  cham- 
ber. Not  far  away,  stood  the  large  table  with  its  carpet,  or 
several  small  ones.  At  meal  times,  the  wealthy  burgher's 
table  would  be  garnished  with  fine  diaper  or  damask  cloth 
and  napkins,  a  great  silver  salt-cellar  of  fine  workmanship, 
silver  beakers,  spoons,  knives  with  handles  of  silver,  agate, 
ivory,  or  mother-of-pearl,  an  occasional  silver  fork  in  wealthy 
homes,  *  jugs,  mugs,  glasses,  plates  and  dishes  of  pewter, 
earthenware,  or  porcelain.  Sometimes  the  glasses,  cups,  or 
mugs  had  silver  or  pewter  covers.  Near  the  host's  great 
chair  would  be  a  large  wine-cooler,  or  cistern  of  pewter  or 
repousse  copper.  Affixed  to  the  wall  is  a  board  with  hooks 
and  a  shelf  above.  Here  hang  pots  and  vessels  of  all 
shapes  and  sizes,  and  on  the  shelf  is  some  of  the  fine  Delft 
ware  in  which  the  mistress  takes  such  pride.  There  is  also 
a  large  provision  cupboard,  and  above  it  hangs  a  looking- 
glass  with  an  ebony  frame  of  waved  mouldings.  Close  by 
stands  a  great  linen  press,  and  perhaps  a  second  "  Kas  "  is 

*  Forks  were  very  scarce  before  1670.  In  1668,  Governor  Eaton  bequeathes  a  "  sylver  meat  fork  " 
to  Mrs.  Abigail  Nichols.  George  Cooke  owns  one  in  1679.  Nine  silver  spoons  and  six  forks  cost  £10 
in  1690.  It  is  surprising  how  long  it  took  for  them  to  become  popular;  there  was  a  strange  prejudice 
against  them.  In  Nicholas  Breton's  The  Courtier  and  the  Countryman,  we  read:  ''For  us  in  the 
country,  when  we  have  washed  our  hands  after  no  foul  work,  nor  handling  any  unwholesome  thing,  we 
need  no  little  forks  to  make  hay  with  our  mouths,  to  throw  our  meat  into  them." 

243 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


also  in  the  room.  A  bright  and  charming  Frisian  clock 
(such  as  appears  facing  page  302)  ticks  on  the  wall.  In 
the  background,  a  stairway,  more  or  less  ornamental,  with 
plain  banisters  or  turned  balustrading,  leads  to  the  rooms 
above;  and  under  it  stand  casks,  and  a  lantern  hangs  there 
to  light  the  descent  to  the  cellar.  A  carved  oak  glass 
stand,  or  rack,  is  also  frequently  found ;  and  on  it  are  gob- 
lets and  glasses  of  all  dimensions.  Pails,  brushes,  brooms, 
and  all  the  implements  for  washing  and  scouring  are  con- 
veniently at  hand.  The  window,  with  leaded  diamond  or 
square  panes,  has  an  exterior  framing  of  creepers  or  rose- 
tendrils.  At  the  entrance,  or  in-  the  vestibule,  were  some- 
times to  be  found  faience  plates  breathing  the  spirit  of  easy- 
going good-nature  characteristic  of  the  race.  A  typical 
one  bears  the  legend : 

"  Al  wat  gij  ziet,  en  oordeel  niet. 
Al  wat  gij  hoord,  en  geloof  met. 
Al  wat  gij  weet,  en  zeg  niet. 
A  I  wat  gij  vermoogt,  en  doet  niet." 

(Don't  judge  all  that  you  see. 
Don't  believe  all  that  you  hear. 
Don't  utter  all  that  you  know. 
Don't  do  all  that  you  can  do.) 

Another  plate,  representing  a  grotesquely-garbed  indi- 
vidual, reads  : 

"  Huijs  is  noijt  zond 
Gikkin  die  bet  niet 
In  dient  de  kan  verstrekken  " 

(This  house  is  never  lacking  in  fools;  he  who  does 
not  amuse  himself  in  it  can  get  out.) 

The  Friesland  clock,  mentioned  above,  is  about  200 
years  old.    It  is  owned  by  the  Rev.  John  van  Burk,  Johns- 

244 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


town,  N.  Y.,  and  is  in  the  rooms  of  the  Albany  Institute 
and  Historical  and  Art  Society.  The  mermaids,  cherubs, 
eagles,  and  other  ornaments  upon  it  present  a  bewildering 
and  beautiful  combination  of  scarlet,  blue,  white  and  gold. 
The  pictures  on  and  above  the  dial  are  delicately  painted. 

The  wealthy  Dutch  merchant  naturally  had  more 
numerous  and  luxurious  apartments  than  the  home  above 
described.  Like  his  English  brother,  his  rooms  were  full 
of  hangings,  bric-a-brac,  porcelains,  plate,  and  furniture  of 
the  choicest  woods,  marquetry  and  lacquer.  We  will  now 
examine  a  house  of  this  class. 

Cornelis  Steenwyck,  the  second  wealthiest  citizen  of 
New  Amsterdam  when  it  passed  into  English  hands,  be- 
came Mayor  of  New  York  and  died  in  1686.  His  estate, 
including  debts,  then  amounted  to  ^15,931-15-1.  He 
owned  one  house  south  of  Bridge  Street  and  east  of  the 
Fort,  £joo  ;  another,  a  little  to  the  north,  ^300  ;  a  gar- 
den between  the  houses  of  Peter  Doriemer  and  Stephanus 
Van  Cortlandt,  £yo ;  and  "  a  small  slip  of  ground  lying  in 
the  broad  way  on  the  back  part  of  the  lot  of  Laendert 
Vandergrift,  22  feet  by  15  feet,  J^J."  Thus  Broadway 
real  estate  was  already  valuable.  His  home  is  a  good  type  of 
that  of  the  wealthy  burgher.  It  was  an  eight-roomed  house 
with  cellars,  etc.  In  the  Great  Chamber,  was  S~3'7JA 
in  money,  besides  jewelry  worth  ^'52-4-0,  and  730  ounces 
of  silver  plate  worth  ^219.  It  was  elaborately  furnished 
with  a  round  table  [£2)  and  square  table  (^'10),  twelve 
Russia  leather  and  two  chairs  with  fine  silver  lace,  a  cabinet 
{£()),    a   great   looking-glass  and  a  very  valuable 

"cupboard  or  case  of  French  nutwood  "(^20).  Fourteen 
fine  pictures  adorned  the  walls,  and  there  was  a  pair  of 
tiowered  tabby  curtains  for  the  glass  windows  and  a  chim- 

245 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ney-cloth  of  the  same  material.  The  fire-place  was  sup- 
plied with  a  "  hearthe  iron  with  hrass  handles  ";  and  one 
part  of  the  room  was  given  up  to  a  big  bedstead  with  its 
furnishings,  and  a  dressing-box.  There  was  also  a  "  cap- 
stock,"  or  rack  to  hang  clothes  on,  besides  some  table-linen, 
striped  tapestry,  silver  lace,  feather  plumes,  three  chamber 
brooms  and  a  carpet.  On  the  chimney-piece  and  in  the 
great  cupboard  and  cabinet  were  five  alabaster  images,  nine- 
teen porcelain  dishes,  an  ivory  compass  and  two  flowered 
earthen  pots.    All  this  sounds  very  luxurious  and  attractive. 

The  Fore  Room  contained  a  marble  table  with  wooden 
frame,  another  table  of  wood  with  a  carpet,  one  matted 
and  seven  Russia  leather  chairs,  one  "foot  banke,"  a 
cushion,  a  clock,  eleven  pictures,  and  three  curtains  over 
the  glass  windows.  This  forms  a  very  pleasant  sitting- 
room. 

In  the  "withdrawing  room"  were  two  chairs,  a  cabi- 
net (^4),  a  chest,  a  trunk,  a  capstick,  a  close-stool,  a 
cushion,  eight  pictures,  and  five  china  dishes,  besides  a  lot 
of  dry-goods. 

The  kitchen  chamber  was  evidently  the  common  fam- 
ily living-room.  It  contained  five  Russia  leather,  three 
matted,  and  four  other  chairs,  an  oval  table  with  woolen 
cloth,  a  bedstead  and  furniture  with  iron  rods  and  curtains, 
a  case  for  clothes,  two  small  trunks,  two  cushions,  a  chim- 
ney-cloth, a  tobacco-pot,  a  glass  lantern,  a  looking-glass 
and  a  great  quantity  of  linen  and  earthenware.  There 
were  also  three  wooden  racks  for  dishes  and  a  "  can-board 
with  hooks  of  brass."  The  latter  appears  in  many  a  Dutch 
interior  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

The  other  rooms  comprised  the  after-loft,  chamber 
above  the  kitchen,  cellar-kitchen,  upper  chamber  tor  mer- 

246 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


chandise,  cellar  and  garret.  There  was  also  a  small  stable, 
and  "in  the  streete "  were  fir  planks,  an  iron  anchor, 
board  and  Holland  pan  tiles.  Among  the  host  of  miscel- 
laneous household  goods  and  utensils,  we  note  a  "cupboard 
or  case  of  drawers,"  two  painted  screens,  a  tick-tack  board, 
a  paper-mill,  some  black  lead  and  blue,  tin  ware  to  bake 
sugar  cakes,  a  marsepyn  pan  (marzipan  or  marchpane,  a 
sweet  confection  of  almond  paste  and  sugar),  {£2),  two  tin 
water  spouts,  thirteen  scrubbing  and  thirty-one  rubbing 
brushes,  twenty-four  pounds  of  Spanish  soap  and  seven 
brushes. 

The  household  utensils  and  domestic  conveniences  in 
New  York  were,  as  a  rule,  more  varied  and  more  numer- 
ous than  in  New  England  and  the  South.  Cleaning  and 
scrubbing  utensils  especially  were  abundant;  a  few  items  of 
this  nature  from  inventories  before  1 700  are  as  follows : 
Whitening  brushes,  scrubbing  ditto,  painting  brushes,  hair 
ditto,  dust  ditto,  chamber  brooms,  "  hearth  hair  brushes 
with  brass  and  wooden  handles,"  hearth  brooms,  rubbers, 
"brush  to  clean  ye  floor,"  "dust  brushes  called  hogs,"  floor 
brushes,  rake  ditto,  "  Bermudian  brooms  with  sticks,"  sticks 
to  hang  the  clothes  upon,  washing  tubs,  pails,  rainwater 
casks,  glass  knockers  to  beat  clothes,  "  tin  wateren  pot  to 
wet  clothes,"  wicker  baskets,  smoothing  irons,  boards  "  to 
whet  knives  upon,"  clothes  brushes,  leather  buckets,  fire 
buckets,  Dutch  hampers  and  Bermuda  baskets,  and  scrub- 
bers tied  with  red  leather. 

An  important  personage  in  Albany  was  Dom  Nicholas 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  died  in  1679.  His  house  near  the 
mill,  worth  1,200  guilders,  contained  a  generous  supply  of 
linen,  china,  earthenware,  silver  plate,  pewter,  brass  and 
iron.     The  wooden  furniture  comprised  two  beds,  a  chest 

247 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  drawers,  two  looking-glasses,  a  globe  of  the  world,  a 
brown  table  of  nutwood,  a  chest  of  the  same,  an  oak  table, 
a  table  of  pine  with  six  stools  or  chairs,  a  sleeping  bank 
(see  page  250)  of  pine,  an  old  coffer  with  a  desk,  a  seal, 
a  wooden  sand-box  and  a  brush,  twenty-one  pictures  and 
the  King's  Arms.  Some  of  the  miscellaneous  articles 
included  "an  instrument  to  swim  withal,  a  tin  pan  to  roast 
apples,  a  flat  dish  to  boil  fish  on,  a  brass  pocket  watch 
that's  out  of  order,  and  a  fflagilet  tipt  with  silver."  The 
above  furniture  was  certainly  not  excessive  for  four 
rooms,  of  which  this  house  probably  consisted. 

The  curious  old  Dutch  chair,  seen  facing  page  286 
(lower  left-hand  corner),  is  owned  by  Mr.  Gardner  Cotrell 
Leonard,  of  Albany.  It  has  cabriole  front  legs  ending  in 
hoof  feet,  turned  stretchers,  a  jar-shaped  splat  and  two 
handles,  or  ears,  at  the  sides. 

The  New  York  inventories  give  quite  a  different  im- 
pression from  those  of  the  South,  or  even  of  New  England. 
It  is  plain  that  the  oak  age  is  past.  The  drawing-table 
(see  page  63)  still  survives,  but  the  newer  forms  of  light  fur- 
niture are  rapidly  driving  out  the  solid  and  cumbrous  styles. 
In  the  poorer  houses,  tables  and  chairs  are  scarce,  and  very 
roughly  constructed ;  in  the  richer  homes,  the  latter  are 
good  and  plentiful.  Between  1680  and  1700,  a  merchant's 
house  would  contain  from  thirty  to  fifty  chairs  in  ad- 
dition to  forms  and  stools.  The  latter  were  not  numerous. 
Turkey-work,  turned,  matted,  Russia  leather  (single  and 
double  nailed),  Spanish  leather  and  cane  chairs  are  the 
principal  varieties.  Typical  specimens  of  the  day  are  shown 
facing  page  286  and  on  page  249.  The  most  ornate,  fac- 
ing page  286  (right-hand  below),  is  from  the  Schuyler 
house,  on  the  Flats,  Troy  Road,  N.  Y.     Similar  chairs 

24s 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CHAIR    FROM    WHITEHALL  CHAIR   FROM  WHITEHALL 

Owned  by  Mrs.  Cuyler  Ten  Eyck,  Albany.  Owned   by  Mrs.  Cuyler  Ten  Eyck,  Albany. 


appear  also  on  page  271  and  facing  page  8.  The  other 
chairs  are  owned  by  Mrs.  Cuyler  Ten  Eyck,  Albany,  and 
came  from  her  home,  Whitehall,  the  Gansevoort  house. 

Ebony  chairs  were  possessed  by  a  few  families.  "  Foot- 
banks  "  often  added  to  bodily  ease.  Enough  has  been  said 
about  the  chairs  of  the  period  in  former  sections,  so  there 
is  no  need  to  dwell  on  them  here.  Church  chairs,  stools 
or  stoofts  are  quite  general  in  the  houses  ;  they  were  car- 
ried to  worship  when  wanted.  One  of  these,  shown  facing 
page  250,  belongs  to  Mr.  George  Douglas  Miller,  and  is 

249 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


now  in  the  rooms  of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical 
and  Art  Society.*  It  is  painted  black  and  bears  a  picture 
of  the  Last  Judgment  in  colours;  the  angel  is  seen  separat- 
ing the  sheep  from  the  goats.  Beneath  is  the  date  1702, 
and  the  following  inscription : 

"  Het  oordeel  Gotsir  nu  bereijt 
Het  is  nogtijt  Laet  onsincingt 
De  vroome  van  de  Boose  Scheyt 
Godt  beddenom  des  Heemals  ovcngt. 

("The  judgment  of  God  is  now  prepared 
There  is  still  time,  leave  unwisdom 
The  pious  will  be  separated  from  the  wicked 
God's  wisdom  encircles  the  universe.") 

Tables  are  generally  the  same  as  elsewhere;  the  side  or 
sideboard  table,  with  or  without  drawers,  is  frequently 
present. 

Though  the  high-post  bedstead  was  common,  in  some 
of  the  Dutch  homes  the  bedstead  was  a  kind  of  sleeping- 
bunk  (slaap-banck),  a  shelf  with  doors  in  the  wall;  this 
bedstead  was  literally  the  bed-place  and  not  an  ornamen- 
tal piece  of  furniture.  This  arrangement  is  still  to  be  seen 
in  many  farm-houses  of  northern  Europe,  Normandy  and 
Brittany,  and  constantly  appears  in  the  pictures  of  Gerard 
Dou,  Jan  Steen  and  other  contemporary  Dutch  painters. 

Little  beds,  trundle  beds  (known  as  slaap  banck  op  rol- 
len\  tent  beds  with  curtains,  sleeping  benches,  press-beds 
and  bedsteads  "  on  fold"  were  other  varieties.  Slaves  had 
to  be  content  with  rough  sleeping  accommodations.  A 
temporary  shake-down,  or  rough  cot,  such  as  guests  had  to 
put  up  with  at  festival  time,  was  called  a  Kermesse  bed. 
When  Jaspar  Dankers  and  Peter  Sluyter,  the  Labadists, 

*  This  of  course  is  a  small  stool,  but  has  been  reproduced  on  a  very  large  scale  in  order  to  show  the 
picture  upon  it. 


_ 

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o 
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o 

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■ft. 


IX  ^ 
U  £ 

u 


fee 


X 

- 

Q 


r 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


visited  Simon  at  Gouanes  in  1690,  they  noted  in  their 
journal :  "  It  was  very  late  at  night  when  we  went  to  rest 
in  a  Kermis  bed,  as  it  is  called,  in  the  corner  of  the  hearth, 
alongside  of  a  good  fire."  The  warming-pan  of  copper  or 
brass  was  always  in  requisition.  One  belonging  to  Mrs. 
Robert  R.  Topping,  of  Albany,  is  represented  facing  page 
254  with  some  other  articles  now  in  the  rooms  of  the  Al- 
bany Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society.  These  are 
foot-warmers,  owned  by  Messrs.  Bleecker  and  James  B. 
Sanders,  and  a  "scheppel,"  a  Dutch  grain  measure  used  in 
the  New  Netherlands,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  S.  G.  Bradt, 
and  a  trunk  belonging  to  Mrs.  Anna  de  Peyster  Douw  Mil- 
ler. A  fine  brass  warming-pan,  marked  with  the  initials 
of  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  is  at  Cherry  Hill,  Albany. 

We  also  find  a  multifarious  assortment  of  cooking  uten- 
sils and  implements,  including  pots,  funnels,  pans,  cullen- 
ders, kettles,  chocolate-pots,  apple-roasters,  cake  and  pie 
pans,  sugar-cake  pans,  posset-pans,  marchpane-pans,  strain- 
ers, fish-kettles,  skillets,  jacks,  spits  and  trammels. 

Among  the  miscellaneous  household  goods  mentioned, 
we  note  steel  to  strike  fire  with,  tinder-box,  candle-box, 
rack,  spice-box,  kettle-bench,  mustard-querne,  spoon-rack, 
thing  to  put  spoons  in,  sand-box,  tobacco-box,  spue-box 
(which  sometimes  had  a  drawer),  paper-mill,  frame  for 
clothes  to  hang,  rack  to  hang  clothes  and  caps  upon,  hour- 
glass, weather-glass,  dressing-stick  and  board,  comb-box, 
black  walnut  paper-box  and  rolling  board  for  linen. 

The  attention  paid  to  the  comfort  of  children  is  often 
apparent.  Among  the  frequent  entries  are  children's  bed- 
steads, cribs,  cradles,  small  children's  trunks,  child's  stools, 
sucking-bottles,  nurse-chairs,  rocking-chairs,  childbed  bas- 
kets, and  toys  and  playthings.    "  Fenders  to  keep  children 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

from  the  fire"  are  specially  mentioned.  Three  interesting 
pictures  appear  facing  page  258  and  on  page  253. 

The  first  represents  a  cradle  belonging  to  the  Pruyn  fam- 
ily and  a  child's  rocking-chair  used  by  Sarah  Lansing.  Be- 
hind this  stand  two  fire-screens  (the  latter  belonging  to  the 
estate  of  Mary  Parker  Corning)  now  in  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute and  Historical  and  Art  Society. 

The  second  shows  an  old  cradle  covered  with  leather 
and  ornamented  with  brass  nails  also  forming  date  1749, 
and  a  child's  high  chair,  with  turned  posts  and  stretchers, 
and  bearing  a  bar  for  the  feet.  The  seat  is  covered  with 
leather.  These  pieces  have  always  been  in  the  Van 
Rensselaer  family,  and  are  now  owned  by  Mrs.  H.  Van 
Rensselaer  Gould,  of  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  and  are  preserved 
in  the  Van  Rensselaer  house,  Cherry  Hill,  Albany. 

The  third  is  a  child's  chair  long  in  the  Lansing  fam- 
ily. This  belongs  to  Miss  Anna  Lansing  in  Albany.  The 
"tip  and  turn"  tea-table  of  mahogany  with  ball-and-claw 
feet  is  of  later  date.     This  also  belongs  to  Miss  Lansing. 

For  lighting  the  halls  and  rooms,  there  were  lanterns, 
earthen  and  other  lamps  and  a  great  variety  of  candlesticks. 
These  were  of  pewter,  tin,  iron,  brass  and  more  precious 
metals.  Silver  candlesticks  were  not  rare,  and  some  of  these 
were  of  elaborate  form  and  workmanship.  Besides  the 
simpler  kinds  that- stood  on  tables  and  shelves,  there  were 
high-branched  standing  candlesticks,  sconces  and  arms 
on  the  walls,  and  candelabra  hanging  from  the  ceilings. 
A  double  brass  hanging  candlestick  with  snuffers  and 
extinguisher  was  worth  ^1-4-0  in  1696.  Some  of  the 
varieties  were  hand-candlesticks,  brass  hanging  and  handle 
candlesticks,  brass  standing  ditto,  standing  ditto  with 
two  brass  candlesticks  to  it,  and  brass-plated  candlestick. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Cornelis  Van  Dyke  (1686),  whose  estate  amounted  to 
1,428  beavers,  had  a  typical  mixture  of  furniture  in  his 
house.  One  room  contained  a  walnut  bedstead  with 
dark  say  hangings  and  silk  fringe,  a  walnut  chest  contain- 
ing a  spare  suit  of  serge  hangings,  a  painted  chest  of 
drawers,  "  a  walnut  chest  of  drawers  with  a  press  for  nap- 


a  child's  chair  and  mahogany  tea  table 

Owned  by  Miss  Anna  Lansing,  Albany.     See  page  252 


kins  atop  of  it,"  an  oak  chest  of  drawers,  an  oak  table  and 
carpet,  eight  Spanish  stools,  a  walnut  capstock  to  hang 
clothes  upon,  a  red  table  that  folds  up,  an  old  case  without 
bottles,  a  hanging  about  a  chimney ;  and  the  usual  linen 
brass,  pewter,  earthenware  and  glass.  The  Fore  Room 
was  furnished  with  a  bedstead  and  green  say  suit  of  hang- 
ings, another  bedstead  of  oak,  a  painted  chest  of  drawers, 
a  wooden  table,  ten  matted  chairs,  a  Spanish  leather  stool, 

253 


THE 


FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


a  looking-glass,  three  pictures,  "  four  racks  that  the  pewter 
stands  on  and  earthenware,"  a  desk,  a  pewter  standish,  a 
painted  eight-cornered  table,  three  chests,  a  leather  hat 
case,  andirons,  fire-irons,  bellows,  long  and  short  handled 
brushes  and  the  usual  kitchen  stuff.  In  the  shop  was  a 
sleeping  bed  of  pine  wood  and  bedding  for  the  servant,  and 
"before  the  door  a  wooden  sleigh." 

From  the  above  examples,  it  is  evident  that  in  the  aver- 
age home  there  was  no  distinction  between  sitting-  and 
sleeping-rooms,  and  the  hall  is  rarely  named  as  an  apart- 
ment, but  that  in  the  richest  families  the  rooms  were  some- 
times reserved  for  distinct  purposes.  Col.  Lewis  Morris 
(169  i,  ^4928-17-1)  had  a  bed  in  his  dining-room  as  well 
as  in  the  great  room  and  lodging-room.  Thomas  Crun- 
dell's  hall  (1692)  contained  a  bed.  The  other  furniture  in 
this  hall  consisted  of  small  square  and  large  oval  tables,  cup- 
board, black  walnut  chest  of  drawers,  glass  case  of  the  same 
wood,  seven  leather  and  three  Turkey-work  chairs,  a 
chamber  screen,  andirons,  etc.  The  chimney-cloth  was  of 
fringed  calico,  and  one  large  and  three  small  landscapes 
were  on  the  walls. 

The  wives  of  the  wealthier  citizens  had  their  own 
apartments  to  which  they  could  retire  for  rest  or  privacy. 
Some  of  these  were  quite  luxuriously  furnished.  William 
Cox  was  a  rich  merchant,  who  died  in  1689.  His 
widow's  chamber  contained  a  chest  of  drawers  on  a  frame, 
a  side  table  with  drawers,  a  chest  of  drawers  and  a  dress- 
ing-box, a  glass  case,  twelve  Turkey  chairs,  a  large  look- 
ing-glass, a  silver  ditto,  and  a  bed  with  serge  curtains  and 
valance  with  silk  fringe. 

By  this  time,  many  a  Vanderdecken  had  weathered  the 
Cape,  and  the  beautiful  fabrics  and  strange  productions  of 

254 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  affluent  East  had  found  their  way  into  every  trade  cen- 
tre. Oriental  goods  give  a  characteristic  note  to  the  rooms 
of  every  prosperous  Dutchman  of  the  day.  Porcelains, 
lacquer  goods,  silk  and  cotton  fabrics,  carved  wood  and 
ivory,  and  wrought  metals  were  brought  here  almost  as 
freely  as  they  are  to-day.  There  is  scarcely  an  inventory  of 
a  person  of  ample  means  after  1675  that  does  not  contain 
some  article  of  Eastern  origin. 

New  York  was  an  exceedingly  busy  mart,  and  English 
and  Dutch  and  other  vessels  unloaded  at  her  wharves 
merchandise  as  varied  as  was  to  be  had  in  London  or  Am- 
sterdam. Thriving  as  this  trade  emporium  now  was,  legi- 
timate commerce  did  not  satisfy  many  of  the  merchants, 
who,  as  is  well  known,  were  none  too  scrupulous ;  they 
had  no  hesitation  in  breaking  the  laws  of  trade  whenever 
possible,  and  pirates  received  much  sympathy  and  aid. 
Ships  were  even  sent  with  supplies  to  the  pirates'  haunts 
and  returned  with  miscellaneous  plunder  and  successful 
pirates,  who  had  come  home  to  retire  in  comfort  on  the 
fruits  of  their  industry.  The  Earl  of  Bellomont  was  sent 
out  as  Governor  in  1697  to  stop  the  illegal  traffic.  He  and 
others  had  entered  into  a  commercial  venture  with  a  citi- 
zen and  ex-privateer  of  New  York,  named  Captain  William 
Kidd,  with  the  object  of  exterminating  piracy.  Every- 
body knows  the  outcome  of  this  scheme.  In  1692,  Cap- 
tain Kidd  was  a  respectable  member  of  society  and  mar- 
ried Sarah,  the  widow  of  John  Ort  who  had  been  dead 
only  a  few  months.  It  may  be  interesting  to  see  the 
household  goods  that  the  future  pirate  acquired  by  this 
marriage. 

There  were  live  tables,  one  of  which  was  oval,  with  six 
carpets;  eighteen  Turkey-work,  twenty-foursingle-nailed  and 

255 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


twelve  double-nailed  leather  chairs ;  three  chests  of  drawers, 
a  glass  case,  two  stands,  two  dressing-boxes,  a  desk,  a  screen, 
four  looking-glasses,  a  clock,  four  curtained  beds,  two  pairs 
of  andirons,  two  fenders,  three  sets  of  fire-irons,  three  chaf- 
ing-dishes, four  brass,  four  tin  and  four  pewter  candle- 
sticks, five  leather  buckets,  104  ounces  of  silver  plate, 
twelve  drinking-glasses,  and  the  usual  bedding,  linen,  pew- 
ter and  kitchen  stuff.  With  the  addition  of  his  own  ef- 
fects, therefore,  Captain  Kidd's  home  was  quite  luxurious. 

The  contents  of  the  houses  constantly  bear  evidence  of 
the  extent  of  New  York's  foreign  trade  and  imply  that 
little  of  the  good  furniture  was  made  here.  The  new 
styles  that  the  Dutch  had  borrowed  from  the  East  were 
rapidly  growing  in  favour.  Marquetry,  already  spoken  of 
on  page  68,  beautiful  examples  of  which  appear  facing 
page  262  and  page  296,  owned  by  Mrs.  William  Gor- 
ham  Rice,  of  Albany,  and  Mr.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  of 
New  York,  was  becoming  a  leading  feature  of  furniture 
decoration,  and  objects  of  strange  shapes  with  inlay  of 
exotic  woods  were  gradually  eclipsing  the  old  cabinets, 
chests  of  drawers,  cupboards  and  tables  with  mouldings  and 
mathematical  patterns  of  ebony  and  imitation  ebony.  The 
more  picturesque  and  pictorial  marquetry  and  the  bombe 
forms  and  cabriole  legs  had  practically  superseded  the 
severe  oak  by  1690.  William  of  Orange  was  now  in 
England,  and  the  new  Dutch  furniture  was '  all  the  rage. 
Walnut  was  principally  used,  but  chestnut  was  also  in  de- 
mand, and  much  hickory  reached  Holland  from  this  side. 
The  Dutch  recognized  the  value  of  mahogany  in  cabinet- 
making  earlier  than  is  usually  thought. 

Stray  pieces  of  mahogany  unquestionably  existed  in 
New  York  and  perhaps  in  New  England  and  the  South  at 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


this  date.  It  is  probable  that  the  "  line  red  chest  of  draw- 
ers," belonging  to  Thomas  Tyler,  of  Boston  (1691),  was 
composed  of  mahogany.  The  "  red  table  that  folds  up," 
already  mentioned  in  the  inventory  of  Cornelis  Van  Dyke 
(1686),  looks  suspiciously  like  mahogany,  and  there  is  no 


MAHOGANY  TABLE 
In  the  Van  Cortlandt  House,  Croton-on-thc-Hudson. 


telling  how  long  he  had  possessed  it.  The  same  remark 
applies  to  the  "cupboard  of  Cashoes  tree,  ^"i-io-o,"  be- 
longing to  James  Laty,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  six  years  later. 
Cashoes  is,  of  course,  mahogany  (Dutch,  kasjoe ;  Brazilian, 
acajoba ;  French,  acajou).  An  early  specimen  of  mahog- 
any represented  on  this  page  belongs  to  Miss  Anne  Van 
Cortlandt  at    Croton-on-the-Hudson ;  it    is   said  to  have 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


been  brought  from  Holland  by  Olaf  Stevenson  Van  Cort- 
landt  in  1668  on  his  return  from  a  visit  to  his  fatherland. 
This,  as  well  as  the  next  example,  closely  follows  the  pattern 
of  the  seventeenth  century  oak  tables  (see  pages  1  1  and  97). 
In  transitional  periods,  styles  overlap  and  the  old  forms  are 
often  clung  to  after  the  new  have  been  introduced.  It  is 
quite  possible,  however,  that  the  mahogany  table  belong- 
ing to  Miss  Van  Cortlandt  is,  in  fact,  an  early  mahogany 
example  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  second  table, 
facing  page  260,  belonged  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  is 
loaned  to  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  -Gen.  John  Taylor  Cooper. 
The  wood  is  very  rich  red,  the  leaves  drop  on  hinges  at 
each  end,  and  are  supported  by  legs  that  fold.  Its  height 
is  29^8  inches;  its  length  6  feet  6  inches  and  5  feet  11 
inches  across  the  shortest  diameter.  This  piece  of  furni- 
ture was  confiscated  in  1776,  and  was  purchased  by  the 
Hon.  John  Taylor. 

It  is  not,  however,  the  new  Dutch  furniture  designed 
under  the  influence  of  the  Orient  that  is  noticeable  in  New 
York  houses,  so  much  as  the  actual  products  in  wood  and 
lacquer  of  those  remote  realms.  Many  a  house  contained 
cabinets,  baskets,  trays,  images  and  ceramics  of  all  kinds 
that  had  come  direct  from  the  Far  East.  Among  others 
we  may  select  the  following: 

Christina  Cappoens  (1687)  had  an  "  Eestindia  Cabbenet 
with  four  black  ebben  feet,  ^"2-1  0-0."  Margarita  Van  Varick 
(1696),  had  "five  silver  wrought  East  India  boxes,  three 
ditto  cups,  two  ditto  dishes,  one  ditto  trunk,  a  Moorish  to- 
bacco pipe,  a  small  ebony  trunk  with  silver  handles,  an 
East  India  cabinet  with  ebony  feet  wrought,  two  East  In- 
dia cabinets  with  brass  handles,  a  small  black  cabinet  with 


OLD   CRADLE,  CHILD'S  ROCKING-CHAIR  AND    TWO  FIRE- 
SCREENS 

In  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society.     See  page  252. 

VAN   RENSSELAER  CRADLE  AND  CHILD'S  CHAIR 

Owned  ly  Mrs.  Could.     See  page  232. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


silver  handles,  eleven  Indian  babyes,  ten  Indian  looking- 
glasses,  two  East  India  cane  baskets  with  covers,  a  fine  East 
India  dressing-basket,  a  round  ditto,  two  East  India  cane 
baskets  with  covers,  two  wooden  guilt  East  India  trays 
lackered,  one  round  thing  ditto,  thirteen  East  India  pic- 
tures, a  fine  East  India  square  guilt  basket  and  a  carved 
wooden  thing,"  and  quantities  of  porcelain. 

Perhaps  also  "  thirteen  ebony  chairs,  a  small  gold  box 
as  big  as  a  pea,  a  gold  piece  the  shape  of  a  diamond,  a 
gold  bell  and  chain,  two  gold  medals,  a  small  mother-of- 
pearl  box  and  fifty-five  pieces  silver  playthings  or  toys" 
may  have  come  from  the  East.  Mr.  Jacob  De  Lange 
(1685)  also  owned  "one  waxed  East  India  small  trunk, 
one  square  black  small  sealing-waxed  box,  one  silver 
thread-wrought  small  trunk,  one  ivory  small  trunk  tipt 
with  silver,  two  small  square  cabinets  with  brass  hoops, 
one  East  India  basket,  one  East  India  cubbet,  five  small 
East  India  boxes,  one  East  India  waxed  cabinet  with  brass 
bands  and  hinges  with  four  partitions,  one  small  East  In- 
dia rush  case  containing  nineteen  wine  and  beer  glasses, 
one  small  waxed  East  India  trunk,  one  ivory  small  trunk 
tipped  with  silver,  one  square  black  small  sealing-waxed 
box,  one  silver  thread-wrought  small  trunk,  a  gold  boat 
wherein  thirteen  diamants  to  one  white  coral  chain  and 
one  East  India  basket." 

If,  in  addition  to  Oriental  products,  we  examine  the 
porcelain,  earthenware  and  pictures  belonging  to  Mrs. 
Van  Varick  and  to  Mr.  De  Lange,  a  rich  barber-surgeon, 
respectively,  we  shall  have  a  very  clear  view  of  the  best 
that  was  procurable  at  the  close  of  the  third  quarter  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  The  "  Chyrurgian's "  inventory 
(1685,  ^740-1  7-7),  includes :  "  Purcelaine.    In  the  cham- 

259 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ber  before  the  chimney.  Seven  half  basons  (^12-15-0), 
two  belly  flagons,  three  white  men,  one  sugar  pot,  two 
small  pots,  six  small  porrengers,  one  small  goblet "  (all 
^2-14-0).  Thus  we  see  how  a  chimney-piece  was  deco- 
rated. The  six  plates  were  naturally  stood  on  end.  Upon  the 
case,  or  kas,  were  two  great  basons,  one  great  goblet,  two 
pots,  two  flasks  and  four  drinking  glasses; — total  ^4-16-0. 
Other  porcelain,  some  of  which  was  evidently  for  sale,  in- 
cluded :  "  Five  drillings,  thirty  butter  dishes,  six  double 
ditto,  seven  small  tea  pots,  two  white  ditto,  one  can  with  a 
silver  joint,  one  ditto  with  a  joint,  Ave  small  basons,  one 
barber's  ditto,  sixty-seven  saucers,  four  salt  sellers,  three 
small  mustard  pots,  five  oil  pots,  one  small  pot,  1 27  tea 
pots,  three  small  men,  two  fruit  dishes."  The  total  value 
of  this  chinaware  was  ^15-11-6  The  earthenware 
comprised  "  two  small  cups,  one  bason,  one  small  oil  can, 
one  small  spice  pot,  rive  saucers,  six  small  men,  one  small 
dog,  two  small  swans,  one  small  duck."  These  were  all 
worth  only  ten  shillings.  In  addition,  there  were  "  ten 
white  dishes,  seven  white  and  blue  ditto,  two  flat  white 
basons,  one  white  cup,  one  salt  seller,  one  mustard  pot, 
twenty-one  trenchers,  one  chamber  pot,  one  pan  with  pew- 
ter cover.  Red  earthenware :  Five  small  saucepans,  three 
stew  pans,  four  pots,  one  strainer,  two  small  dishes,  two 
jars."  Mrs.  Van  Varick's  porcelain  was  as  follows: 
"  Three  cheenie  pots,  one  ditto  cup  bound  with  silver,  two 
glassen  cases  with  thirty-nine  pieces  of  small  chinaware  and 
eleven  Indian  babyes,  also  six  small  and  six  larger  china 
dishes,  twenty-three  pieces  of  chinaware,  two  white  china 
cups  with  covers,  one  parcel  toys  (^"2-10-0),  three  tea 
pots,  one  cistern  and  basin,  fourteen  china  dishes,  three 
large  ditto,  three  ditto  basons,  three  smaller  ditto,  three  rine 

260 


^1 


a 

^  'I 
£  I 

o  § 
<  • 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


china  cups,  one  ditto  jug,  four  ditto  saucers,  seven  ditto 
smaller  tea  dishes,  six  painted  tea  ditto,  four  tea  ditto, 
eight  tea  cups,  four  ditto  painted  brown,  six  small  ditto, 
three  ditto  painted  red  and  blue,  three  white  East  India 
flower  pots,  three  ditto  smaller,  three  ditto  round,  one 
china  ink  box,  one  lion,  one  china  image."  Other  articles 
of  this  class  were :  Eight  white  earthen  plates,  one  tea  dish, 
two  cups,  six  wooden  tumblers,  one  carved  wooden  thing, 
and  three  wooden  dishes  painted.  Besides  her  Eastern 
cabinets,  already  described,  this  lady  had  other  pieces  of 
furniture  for  the  safe-keeping  and  display  of  her  precious 
china.  First,  perhaps,  comes  "  one  great  Dutch  kas,  which 
could  not  be  removed  from  Flatbush,"  and  was  therefore 
sold  for  ^25.  This  must  have  been  a  very  fine  piece  of 
carved  and  inlaid  work.  Then  we  have  a  "  painted 
wooden  rack  to  set  chinaware  in."  The  value,  j^i-y-o, 
shows  that  either  the  painting  or  carving  was  elaborate.  A 
wooden  tray,  a  wooden  tray  with  feet,  and  a  small  oval 
painted  table  also  occur. 

One  of  the  most  varied  assortments  of  household  goods 
belonged  to  the  above  Jacob  De  Lange.  His  house  con- 
tained a  fore  room,  side  chamber,  chamber,  shop,  kitchen  and 
cellar.  Besides  the  Oriental  goods  already  mentioned,  he 
owned  twelve  chairs  of  red  and  six  of  green  plush,  and 
eleven  matted.  Then  there  were  seven  wooden  backs,  two 
can  boards,  two  small  cloak  boards,  a  hat  press,  a  church 
chair,  a  clothes  press,  a  small  square  cabinet  with  brass 
hoops,  a  cupboard  with  glass  front,  "  a  black  nut  chest, 
found  under  them  two  black  feet,"  one  oak  drawing  and 
two  round  tables.  His  pictures  numbered  fifty-five.  In 
the  side  chamber  were  "  a  small  zea,  an  evening,  four  pic- 
tures countreys  and  five  East  India  pictures  with  red  lists  " 

z6i 

> 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


(list=frame).  The  lore-room  was  adorned  with  "a  great 
picture  being  a  banquet  with  a  black  list,  one  ditto  some- 
thing smaller,  one  ditto  one  bunch  of  grapes  with  a  pome- 
granate, one  ditto  with  apricocks,  one  ditto  a  small  coun- 
try, one  ditto  a  Break  of  Day,  one  ditto  a  Small  Winter, 
one  small  ditto  a  Cobler,  a  Portraturing  of  My  Lord 
Speelman,  a  board  with  a  black  list  wherein  the  coat-of- 
arms  of  Mr.  De  Lange."  These  landscapes,  marines,  in- 
teriors and  still  life  of  the  Dutch  school  would  be  prized 
in  any  house  to-day.  It  is  interesting,  however,  to  note 
that  the  owner's  coat-of-arms  was  valued  at  ^"5-4-0,  while 
all  the  other  pictures  in  the  room  totalled  only  ^8.  The 
Chamber  contained  "one  great  picture  banquetts,  one  ditto, 
one  small  ditto,  one  ditto  Abraham  and  Hagar,  four  small 
countreys,  two  small  ditto,  one  flower  pot,  one  small  ditto, 
one  country  people  frolic,  one  portraiture,  one  sea  strand, 
one  plucked  cock  torn,  two  small  countreys,  one  small  print 
broken,  one  flower  pot  small  without  a  list,  thirteen  East 
India  prints  past  upon  paper."  These  pictures,  many  of 
which  were,  doubtless,  by  celebrated  masters,  reached  the 
grand  total  of  ^19-7-6  ! 

Pictures  are  found  in  considerable  numbers  in  all  opu- 
lent houses.  Thirty-eight  were  owned  by  Cornelis  Steen- 
wyck,  but  the  subjects  are  not  recorded.  Christina  Cap- 
pons,  1687,  owned  "two  rosen  picters,  one  ditto  a  ship, 
one  ditto  of  ye  city  of  Amsterdam,  two  ditto  small  upon 
boards,  ten  small  picters,  one  great  ditto  with  a  broken  list, 
three  small  gilded  ditto."  These  were  collectively  worth 
£2-0-6. 

Besides  two  pictures  not  described,  John  Van  Zee, 
1689,  had  one  of  Julius  Caesar  and  another  of  Scipio  Afri- 
canus.     "  Landskips  "  are  plentiful.     Margarita  Van  Var- 


MARQUETRY  CUPBOARD  AND  DRAWERS 

O-iuned  by  Mrs.  William  Gorham  Rice,  Albany.     See  page  256. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ick,  1696,  owned  thirty-nine  pictures,  including  portraits 
of  herself  and  relations,  "  three  pictures  of  ships  with  black 
ebony  frame,  one  ditto  of  the  Apostle,  one  ditto  of  fruit, 
one  ditto  of  a  battle,  one  ditto  landskip,  one  ditto  large 
flower  pot,  one  ditto  with  a  rummer,  one  ditto  bird  cage 
and  purse,  etc.,  one  large  horse  battle,  one  large  picture 
with  roots."  The  others  included  prints  and  pictures  with 
ebony,  black  and  gilt  frames.  In  some  houses  the  chim- 
ney-piece was  not  very  high,  especially  towards  the  end  of 
the  century.  In  this  case  the  space  above  it  was  rilled  with 
a  large  picture  which  was  specially  named.  Thus,  Mrs. 
Van  Varick  possessed  "  a  large  picture  of  images,  sheep, 
and  ships  that  hung  above  the  chimney."  The  walls  of 
the  rooms  of  the  best  houses  were  thus  amply  decorated ; 
and  with  the  gay  hangings,  table  and  chimney-cloths,  and 
cushions,  the  effect  was  exceedingly  bright  and  rich.  It  may 
be  noted  that  wherever  there  was  a  board  or  shelf  it  received 
some  covering.  The  chests  of  drawers  and  dressing-tables 
were  often  covered  with  a  cloth  called  a  toilet  or  twilight 
towards  the  end  of  the  century.  Cornells  Jacobs  (  1  700 ) 
has  "  one  white  cloth  for  chist  drawers  muslin."  Mrs. 
Van  Varick's  chimney-cloths  and  curtains,  which  matched, 
were  green  serge  with  silk  fringe  and  flowered  crimson 
gauze.  She  also  had  a  painted  chimney-cloth,  six  satin 
cushions  with  gold  flowers,  white  flowered  muslin  curtains, 
two  fine  Turkey-work  carpets,  chintz  flowered  and  blue 
flowered  carpets,  and  a  flowered  carpet  stitched  with  gold, 
besides  many  other  cloths  and  hangings.  The  "  cup- 
boards"  and  "cases"  in  which  the  china  was  kept,  espe- 
cially those  with  glass  fronts,  also  had  cloths  on  the  shelves. 
"  Six  cloths  which  they  put  upon  the  boards  in  the  case  " 
is  an  entry  in  the  inventory  of  Jacob  De  Lange. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  cupboards  and  cases  in  which  china  was  kept  may 
have  been  similar  to  those  represented  facing  this  page  and 
page  272,  both  of"  which  belong  to  Mr.  George  Douglas 
Miller  of  Albany,  and  are  in  the  rooms  of  the  Albany  In- 
stitute and  Historical  and  Art  Society. 

The  kas,  or  kos,  was  the  most  important  article  of  fur- 
niture in  the  ordinary  Dutch  house.  It  is  almost  invari- 
ably found,  often  attaining  enormous  dimensions  and 
seeming  almost  to  form  part  of  the  house  itself.  Before 
the  rage  for  antique  furniture  arose  not  many  years  ago, 
superb  presses  of  this  class  might  still  be  found  in  very 
modest  Dutch  dwellings.  They  were,  and  where  they 
exist,  still  are,  looked  after  with  special  care,  and  lovingly 
rubbed,  oiled  and  varnished.  They  often  had  tall  and 
massive  columns  with  broadly-carved  capitals,  and  carving 
abounded  along  their  edges  and  mouldings.  Beautiful 
tones,  enriched  by  the  centuries,  mingled  in  the  contrasted 
oak,  walnut,  and  blackened  pear  woods.  They  had  a  most 
impressive  air  that  seemed  disdainful  of  the  rest  of  the 
furniture.  In  a  chamber  adorned  with  Oriental  produc- 
tions, their  severity  produced  a  most  striking  effect.  The 
dealers  in  antiques  have  stripped  most  of  the  small  houses 
of  these  great  wardrobe  presses,  but  a  few  specimens  that 
excite  the  admiration  of  tourists  and  travellers  are  still  to 
be  seen  in  Gueldres  and  North  Holland.  They  seem  to 
have  been  universal  in  the  New  Netherlands,  and  the  inven- 
tories show  that  they  lingered  here  long  after  the  rest  of 
the  furniture  of  their  day  had  departed, — more  on  account 
of  their  usefulness  even  than  their  beauty,  in  all  probability. 
That  they  were  highly  prized  is  plain  from  the  fact  of  their 
frequent  appearance  in  wills  as  special  bequests.  Two  in- 
stances  will  suffice:  Judith,  widow  of  Peter  Stuyvesant, 

264 


GLASS  CASE  ON  FRAME  (MARQUETRY) 

Owned  by  Mr.  George  Douglas  Miller,  Albany.     See  page  266. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bequeaths  to  her  son  Nicholaes  among  other  things :  "  My 
great  case  or  cubbard  standing  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Johannes  Van  Brugh,  together  with  all  the  china  earthen- 
ware locked  up  in  said  cubbard."  Again,  in  1687,  Mary 
Mathewes  leaves  to  her  granddaughter,  Hester  Erwin  :  a 
bed  and  furniture,  two  silk  coats  and  "  one  certain  great 
black  walnut  cupboard  standing  in  my  new  dwelling- 
house."  Margarita  Van  Varick's  has  that  was  too  massive  to 
be  moved  has  already  been  noted.  (See  page  261.)  Mr.  De 
Lange's  great  kas  is  thus  described:  "One  great  cloth[es| 
case  covered  with  French  nutwood  and  two  black 
knots  under  it,  £\  ^-0-0."  Other  examples  are  :  A  great 
press  (Jno.  Sharpe,  1681  )  ;  a  cupboard  or  case  of  drawers, 
£9,  and  a  cupboard  or  case  of  French  nutwood,  ^"20 
(Cornells  Steenwyck)  ;  a  small  oak  case,  ^'1-10-0 
(Glaunde  Germonpre  van  Gitts,  1687);  a  white  oak  cup- 
board, ^2-5-0  (Jacob  Sanford,  1688);  a  large  cupboard, 
-£6  (Widow  Burdene,  1690)  ;  a  "cupboard  for  clowes,"  a 
press  and  porcelain,  JT§,  "a  Holland  cubbart  furnished  with 
earthenware  and  porcelain,  ^15"  (F.  Rombouts,  1692);  a 
great  black  walnut  cupboard,  ^'10,  and  a  Dutch  painted 
cupboard,  ^"1  (Abram  Delanoy,  1702);  a  black  walnut 
cupboard,  ^"9  ( Jeremias  Westerhout,  1703);  a  "case  of 
nutwood,"  ^jo  (Jno.  Abeel,  171  2). 

The  high  prices  of  many  of  the  above  show  that  they 
must  have  been  of  line  workmanship.  Sometimes  they 
stood  on  square  feet  and  sometimes  on  the  favourite 
Dutch  ball,  or  "  knot,"  as  the  appraiser  describes  it. 
Humphrey  Hall  (1696)  owned  "a  chest  of  drawers  with 
balls  at  the  feet,  ^1-16-0;  ditto  one  loss,  £  1  - 1  0-0."  This 
ball  that  is  such  a  conspicuous  feature  in  seventeenth-cen- 
tury furniture  was  sometimes  flattened.     We  have  seen  it 

265 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  the  bedposts,  under 
chests  and  in  table  legs. 
The  ball-and-claw  foot 
that  succeeded  it  ap- 
peared before  tn£  close 
of  the  century  and  re- 
mained in  favour  almost 
a  century.  The  cases 
with  glass  or  solid  doors 
frequently  stood  on 
"stands"  or  "frames" 
with  four  or  six  legs  on 
which  the  bulb,  though 
reduced  in  size,  was  still 
conspicuous  (see  facing 
264).  Sometimes  the 
porcelain  cupboards, 
cases  or  cabinets  stood  on 
a  base  that  was  closed 
with    doors.      Mr.  De 

Owned  by  Mrs.  H.  Van  Rensselaer  Gould  at  Cherry  Hill,  Eailge  OWned  a  "  CUD- 
Albany.     See  this  page. 

board  with  a  glass,"  £\- 
5-0.  A  good  example  of  the  latter  variety  appears  facing 
page  272.  The  kas  on  this  page  is  a  Van  Rensselaer 
piece  and  belongs  to  Mrs.  H.  Van  Rensselaer  Gould, 
of  East  Orange,  N.  }.,  but  it  is  preserved  at  Cherry  Hill, 
Albany.  It  is  mahogany  with  ball-and-claw  feet.  The 
four  drawers  are  furnished  with  brass  handles.  In  the  cup- 
board above,  the  shelves  run  the  whole  length.  On  either 
side  of  the  doors  are  fluted  columns. 

The  kas  facing  this  page  also  stands  on  ball-and-claw 
feet,  but  is  made  of  walnut.     A  kind  of  Chinese  pattern 


MAHOGANY  KAS 


266 


WALNUT  KAS 

Owned  hy  Miss  Catharine  Van  Cortlandt  Matthews,  Croton-on  the-  Hudson,  N.  Y.     See  page  266. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


runs  along  the  top.  The  drawers  have  brass  handles.  This 
piece  was  partly  burned  by  the  Hessians  during  the  Revo- 
lution. It  is  owned  by  Miss  Catharine  Van  Cortlandt 
Matthews,  at  Croton-on-the-Hudson,  N.  Y. 

An  example  of  the  great  kas,  belonging  to  Mrs.  John 
V.  L.  Pruyn,  faces  page  270.  It  is  of  marquetry  orna- 
mented with  plaques  of  blue  and  white  Delft. 

A  very  interesting  specimen  facing  page  2^5  is  a 
walnut  kas,  veneered  with  mahogany,  now  owned  by  Miss 
Katharine  Van  Rensselaer,  at  the  Vlie  House,  Rensselaer, 
N.  Y.  It  is  more  than  seven  feet  high.  Two  large 
balls  form  the  front  feet ;  the  doors  and  two  lower 
drawers  are  panelled.  The  carving  consists  of  flowers 
bound  together  with  cords  and  tassels  (one  of  the  latter  is 
missing).  Heads  of  cherubs  and  grotesque  animals  appear 
on  the  corners,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  top  moulding  and 
between  the  two  drawers.  This  originally  belonged  to  Kath- 
arine Van  Burgh  (daughter  of  Johannes  Van  Burgh  and 
Sara  Cuyler,  among  the  first  settlers  on  Manhattan  Island), 
given  to  her  on  her  marriage  to  Philip  Livingston  (grand- 
son of  Philip  Schuyler) ;  it  descended  to  the  present 
owner  through  the  marriage  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
the  eighth  patroon  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaerswyck,  with 
Katharine  Livingston,  granddaughter  of  Katharine  Van 
Burgh. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  greater  part  of  the  good  furni- 
ture found  in  New  York  was  imported.  Among  the 
merchandise  brought  in  by  the  ship  Robert  in  1687  was  a 
cane  chair.  In  the  same  year  the  Amity  of  London,  besides 
barrels,  kegs,  firkins,  casks  and  puncheons,  brought  1  ^ 
trunks,  1  2  chests,  6  boxes,  y  cases,  9  bundles,  4  parcels  of 
bedding,  3  kettles,  a  pot,  spit,  basket,  fire  tongs,  shovel, 

267 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bellows,  desk  and  kas.  Another  lot  of  furniture  on  board 
consisted  of  2  tables,  2  bundles  of  chairs,  a  chest  of  draw- 
ers, bed,  trunk,  2  boxes,  spit  and  jack.  In  1686,  the 
Bachelour,  also  from  London,  had  dry  goods,  brandy,  claret 
and  Rhenish  wine,  a  saddle-horse  with  furniture,  lanterns, 
flat-foot  candlesticks,  funnels,  saucepans,  kettles,  porringers, 
spoons,  basins,  chest  of  drawers,  table  and  frame,  suits  of 
curtains  and  valance,  close-stool  and  looking-glass.  There 
were,  however,  some  workmen  here  who  were  capable  of 
making  good  furniture,  and  all  the  necessary  fine  timber 
was  on  the  spot.  The  Labadists,  who  visited  New  York  in 
1689,  remark  on  the  thick  woods  with  which  the  shores 
of  the  bay  were  covered.  Timber  was  exported  in  large 
quantities,  and  was  wastefully  used  for  fuel.  The  Labad- 
ists note  :  "  We  found  a  good  fire,  halfway  up  the  chimney, 
of  clear  oak  and  hickory,  of  which  they  made  not  the 
least  scruple  of  burning  profusely."  In  17 10,  "  \  )/2  cords 
Nutten  wood  for  the  fire,  £0-1  ^-o,"  belonged  to  Isaac 
Pinchiero.  Nutwood,  as  we  have  already  seen,  was  hick- 
ory. Boards  that  may  have  been  used  in  the  construction 
of  furniture  are  frequently  found  in  the  inventories.  C. 
Steenwyck  (1686)  has  14  French  nut  boards,  ,£3-3-0;  C. 
Cappoens  (1687),  2  black  walnut  boards,  £0-9-0;  F. 
Richardson  (1688),  some  walnut  boards,  £0-10-0;  and  T. 
Davids  (1688),  260  oak  and  chestnut  planks.  It  is  rea- 
sonable to  assume  that  the  cheap  pine  tables,  forms,  and 
chests  were  made  here  ;  probably,  also,  most  of  the  maple 
and  hickory  furniture  came  from  local  workshops.  Cedar 
we  know  was  largely  used.  In  1703,  Matthew  Clarkson 
owned  "one  fine  chest  of  drawers  and  other  things  fitting 
of  maple  wood  ;  "  and  in  1707  Morton  Peterson  had  "  one 
cupbard  of  cedar  home  made,  £1."     The  examples  al- 

268 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ready  given  show  that  the  cupboards  and  kasses  were  usu- 
ally made  of  white  oak  or  black  walnut. 

Expensive  marquetry,  as  well  as  Oriental  goods,  was 
occasionally  imported.  In  1705,  Colonel  William  Smith, 
of  St.  George's,  owned  a  rine  chest  of  drawers  or  walnut 
and  olive  wood  worth  as  much  as  ^15.  The  latter  wood 
was  common  in  looking-glass  frames,  and  other  articles 
were  sometimes  composed  of  it.  In  1692,  Lawrence  Del- 
dyke  owned  an  olive  wood  cabinet. 

The  inventories  quoted  above  would  prove  that  the 
Dutch  in  the  New  Netherlands  were  possessed  of  wealth. 
We  have  contemporary  testimony  from  the  Rev.  John 
Miller,  who,  in  describing  New  York  in  1695,  writes: 
"  The  number  of  inhabitants  in  this  province  are  about 
3,000  families,  whereof  almost  one-half  are  naturally  Dutch, 
a  great  part  English  and  the  rest  French.  ...  As  to  their 
religion,  they  are  very  much  divided  ;  few  of  them  intel- 
ligent and  sincere,  but  the  most  part  ignorant  and  con- 
ceited, fickle  and  regardless.  As  to  their  wealth  and  dis- 
position thereto,  the  Dutch  are  rich  and  sparing ;  the 
English  neither  very  rich,  nor  too  great  husbands;  the 
French  are  poor,  and  therefore  forced  to  be  penurious.  As 
to  their  way  of  trade  and  dealing,  they  are  all  generally 
cunning  and  crafty,  but  many  of  them  not  so  just  to  their 
words  as  they  should  be." 

Before  closing  the  Dutch  period,  one  feature  of  the  large 
house  must  be  mentioned, — the  Doten-Ka?nmer,  a  room  al- 
ways kept  shut  up  until  a  season  of  mourning  and  funerals. 
It  was  generally  furnished  as  a  bedroom;  the  high-post  bed- 
stead was  hung  with  white  curtains,  and  the  chest  of  draw- 
ers contained  burial  clothing.  One  of  the  longest  preserved 
of  these  rooms  was  that  of  Whitehall,  the  Gansevoort  home. 

269 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


At  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  New  York 
was  already  an  important  place.  Wealth  and  some  degree 
of  fashion  were  to  be  found  there.  The  distinguished 
Earl  of  Bellomont  and  his  successor,  the  wild  Lord  Corn- 
bury,  were  accustomed  to  the  best  that  money  could  pro- 
cure at  that  day.  The  extracts  from  the  inventories 
show  that  New  York  compared  very  favourably  with 
Amsterdam  and  London.   A  visitor,  describing  the  town  in 


OLD  CHEST   WITH    DRAWER   AND   DROP  HANDLES 

Owned  by  Miss  Anna  Lansing,  Albany.     See  page  271. 

i  70 1 ,  says  that  it  is  built  of  brick  and  stone  and  covered 
with  red  and  black  tile,  producing  a  very  pleasing  appear- 
ance from  a  distance.  He  adds:  "Though  their  low- 
roofed  houses  may  seem  to  shut  their  doors  against  pride 
and  luxury,  yet  how  do  they  stand  wide  open  to  let  charity 
in  and  out,  either  to  assist  each  other,  or  to  relieve  a  stran- 
ger." For  the  next  twenty  years,  we  do  not  notice  any 
great  changes  in  the  furniture.  The  old  Turkey-work, 
Russia  leather  and  cane  chairs  still  linger,  and  the  matted 
chairs  are  universal.  The  latter  are  usually  black.  Wal- 
nut is  the  favourite  wood,  and  mahogany  is  scarcely  ever 


270 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


THREE  CHAIRS 

Owned  by  Miss  Anna  Lansing,  Albany.  The  central  chair  of  carved  oak  is  from  the  Coeymans 
family  ;  the  others  belonged  to  Abraham  Yates.     See  page  272. 


mentioned.  Olive  wood  is  by  no  means  scarce,  as  chests 
of  drawers  and  tables,  as  well  as  looking-glass  frames  (see 
facing  page  2^0),  are  made  of  it.  Black  walnut  and  Dutch 
painted  cupboards  hold  their  own.  Chests  are  plentiful, 
ball  feet  and  brass  handles  being  often  mentioned.  Chests, 
such  as  the  one  with  drawer  on  page  270,  long  in 
the  Lansing  family  and  now  owned  by  Miss  Anna  Lansing, 
of  Albany,  are  very  common.  A  wealthy  home  of  this 
time  contains  a  great  variety  of  chairs,  old  and  new ;  the 
old  drawing-table  almost  entirely  disappears  ;  the  tea-table 
multiplies  ;  the  cupboard  is  gradually  relinquished  as  the 
"  beaufit,"  or  china  shelves  and  cupboard,  takes  its  place; 
dressing-tables  and  chests  of  drawers,  with  looking-glasses, 
are  plentiful;  Dutch  styles  prevail  and  stiffness  is  entirely 

271 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CHAIRS 

Owned  by  Miss  Anna  Van  Vechten,  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  one  to  the  rignt  is  a  Schuyler  piece, 
the  next  a  Dutch  chair  owned  by  Teunis  Van  Vechten,  and  the  two  others  come  from  the  Lush  family. 


banished.  Fashionable  chairs  occur  on  page  271  and  here. 
Page  271  shows  two  chairs  originally  owned  by  Abraham 
Yates,  and  a  carved  chair  of  the  style  now  going  out  of 
fashion,  that  belonged  to  the  Coeymans  family  and  de- 
scended to  the  present  owner  through  the  Ten  Eycks. 
These  pieces  are  owned  by  Miss  Anna  Lansing,  of  Albany. 

On  this  page  appear  an  old  chair  painted  black,  orig- 
inally cane,  that  was  brought  from  Holland  by  Teunis  Van 
Vechten,  a  fashionable  chair  owned  by  the  Schuyler  family, 
and  two  chairs  to  the  left  that  belonged  to  the  Lush 
family,  the  one  to  the  extreme  left  being  of  a  still  later 
period.  These  four  specimens  are  owned  by  Miss  Anna 
Van  Vechten,  Albany. 

Captain  Giles  Shelley,  of  New  York,  died  in  171 8 
with  a  personalty  of  ^68  1  2- 1  6-7^  .  His  house  con- 
tained a  medley  that  is  typical  of  this  transition  period. 

272 


CHINA  CUPBOARD  (MARQUETRY) 

Owned  by  Mr.  George  Douglas  Miller,  Albany.     See  page  266. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


There  were  seventy  chairs,  of  which  six  were  Turkey- 
work,  twenty-one  cane,  twenty-seven  matted,  twelve 
leather,  one  easy,  two  elbow,  and  one  red  plush  elbow. 
One  painted  and  three  other  large  and  small  oval  were 
among  the  fourteen  tables.  Of  three  clocks,  one  was  re- 
peating. Five  looking-glassses,  three  pairs  of  gilt  sconces, 
one  hanging  and  many  other  candlesticks  and  lamps,  lots 
of  silver  plate,  brass,  china  lions,  images,  porcelain  and 
glass  gave  light  and  brilliancy  to  the  rooms,  the  walls  of 
which  were  also  adorned  with  seventy-seven  pictures  and 
prints  in  black  and  gilt  frames.  Colour  was  added  by 
bright  curtains  and  arras  hangings.  The  position  of  one 
fine  picture  is  expressly  stated;  it  is  a  "landskip  chimney- 
piece."  Two  chests  of  drawers  and  another  with  a  look- 
ing-glass, a  dressing-box,  a  cane  couch,  a  cupboard,  five 
chests  and  seven  or  eight  bedsteads  constituted  the  re- 
mainder of  the  important  wooden  furniture.  The  princi- 
pal bed  curtains  were  of  red  china,  blue  shalloon,  calico, 
silk  muslin  and  white  muslin  inside,  and  striped  muslin 
lined  with  calico.  Among  the  miscellaneous  household 
goods,  of  which  there  was  a  great  quantity,  the  following 
are  noticeable :  a  brass  hearth  with  hooks  for  shovels  and 
tongs,  four  hand  fire-screens,  a  pair  of  tables  and  men,  a 
pair  of  tables,  box-dice  and  men,  two  brass  ring-stands,  a 
plate-stand,  two  silver  chafing-dishes,  a  wind-up  Jack  with 
pullies  and  weights,  two  tea-trays,  a  red  tea-pot,  a  cruet,  a 
work-basket,  a  flowered  muslin  toilet,  a  red  and  gold  satin 
carpet. 

George  Duncan,  also  of  New  York,  whose  goods  were 
valued  at  ^"4099-8-5%  in  1724,  shows  a  still  further  ad- 
vance from  the  old  styles,  though  no  mahogany  is  speci- 
fically mentioned.     The  chairs  were  "old,"  black,  matted 

273 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  cane.  The  most  noticeable  pieces  of  furniture  of  value 
are  an  olive  wood  chest  of  drawers  ;  an  inlaid  scriptore, 
^6-5-0  ;  a  cedar  ditto,  £2  ;  a  bedstead  with  dimity  cur- 
tains lined  with  white  damask,  £\ 0-5-0  ;  a  large  looking- 
glass,  ^4-5-0;  a  clock  and  case,  ^10  ;  and  a  plate  case 
with  glass  doors,  ,£3-5-0. 

To  picture  a  wealthy  home  in  New  York  during  the 
reign  of  George  I.  we  cannot  do  better  than  enumerate 
the  possessions  of  William  Burnet,  Governor  of  New  York 
and  Massachusetts,  who  died  in  1729,  with  a  personalty  of 
£4540-4-3*4  •  His  house  contained  twelve  tables  and 
seventy  chairs.  Some  of  the  furniture  was  undoubtedly  of 
mahogany,  though  the  only  wood  mentioned  is  walnut. 
The  chairs  were  walnut  frames,  red  leather,  bass  bottomed, 
black  bass,  and  "  embowed  or  hollow  back  with  fine  bass 
bottoms."  One  easy-chair  covered  with  silk  was  valued 
at  ^10.  The  style  of  chair  known  as  "Chippendale," 
with  traceried  splat  and  bow-shaped  back,  was  thus  found 
here  in  the  "  twenties."  Twenty-four  of  those  belonging 
to  the  Governor  had  seats  of  red  leather,  and  nine  of  fine 
bass,  valued  at  twenty-four  and  twenty  shillings  each  re- 
spectively. The  tables  were  large  and  small  oval,  black 
walnut,  small  square  and  round,  plain  and  japanned  tea 
tables,  card  and  backgammon  tables.  There  were  two 
valuable  eight-day  clocks,  a  fine  gilt  cabinet  and  frame, 
a  writing-desk  and  stand,  a  chest  of  drawers  and  small 
dressing-glass,  a  "  scrutore  with  glass  doors  "  valued  at  £20, 
three  chests  and  seven  trunks.  Besides  six  dozen  silver 
knives  and  forks  worth  £72,  there  were  1  172  oz.  of  silver 
plate;  china  and  glass  (£130-16-0);  pewter  (£1 00-2-6); 
kitchen  stuff  (£140-1  5-0);  and  a  variety  of  expensive  beds 
with  red  and  chintz  curtains.     One  bedstead  was  of  iron  ; 

174 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  one  "  mattress  Russia  leather,"  one  of  "  Ozenbriggs," 
and  two  of  coarse  Holland  are  mentioned.  Some  form  of 
carpet  now  covered  the  floor  of  the  best  houses,  and  tapestry 
still  adorned  the  rooms.  The  Governor  owned  "  a  fine 
piece  of  needlework  representing  a  rustick,  £10  ;  4 
pieces  flue  tapestry,  ^'20;  a  large  painted  canvas  square  as 
the  room,  ^"8  ;  2  old  checquered  canvases  to  lay  under 
a  table,  ^'0-10-0 ;  2  four-leaf  screens  covered  with  gilt 
leather,  ^15;  1  Are  screen  of  tapestry  work,  _£i-i 0-0  ; 
2  ditto   paper  screens,  Besides  window  curtains, 

cushions  for  windows  occur.  The  hall  was  lighted  by  a 
large  lantern  with  three  lights.  There  were  also  twelve 
silver  candlesticks  weighing  171^2  oz.,  two  branches  for 
three  lights,  two  large  glass  sconces  with  glass  arms.  The 
hearth  furnishings  included  a  brass  hearth  and  dogs,  a  pair 
of  steel  dogs,  tongs,  shovels,  japanned  and  plain  bellows, 
and  "  an  iron  fender  to  keep  children  from  the  fire." 
There  were  many  other  household  conveniences,  among 
which  we  may  note  a  linen  press,  a  horse  for  drying 
clothes,  a  plate  heater,  a  plate  rack,  an  iron  coffee  mill, 
and  a  screen  to  set  before  meat  at  the  fire.  There  were 
large  quantities  of  household  linen.  The  rooms  were  lav- 
ishly adorned  with  pictures,  as  well  as  curtains,  cloths,  and 
tapestries.  Three  sets  of  the  genealogy  of  the  House  of 
Brunswick  recall  the  Governor's  loyalty,  and  his  family's 
rewarded  services  to  that  House.  A  tree  of  the  church 
of  Christ,  Martin  Luther's  picture,  a  lady's  picture  over 
the  door,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary's  picture  with  Jesus  in 
her  arms  (£2),  five  plans  of  Boston,  and  a  view  of  Boston 
harbour  are  the  only  subjects  mentioned.  There  were 
"  two  pictures  in  lackered  frames,  ^5  ;  151  Italian  prints, 
^15-2-0;   17  masentinto  prints  in  frames,  3  ditto  small, 

275 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


3  ditto  that  are  glazed,  £5- 
4-0 ;  and  44  prints  in  black 
frames,  .£7-15-0."  The 
possessions  of  the  Governor 
breathe  an  atmosphere  of 
ease  and  luxury  that  one 
would  scarcely  expect  to 
find  in  New  York  during 
the  third  decade  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  He 
was  evidently  fond  of  good 
living,  games,  sport,  exer- 
cise and  music.  He  had 
three  coach  horses  and  a 
horse  for  riding.  Five  cases 
of  foils  and  a  single  foil 
show  that  he  was  a  fencer ; 
and  three  muskets  and  a 
cane  fishing-rod  prove  that 
plate  back  chair  he  was  a  sportsman.  "  Nine 

Originally  owned  by  iilbridge  Gerry  ;  now  in  old  n~      1    1  •  1  • 

State  House,  Boston.  gOUlt    C1UDS,   One    1TOR  dlttO 

and  seven  dozen  balls " 
show  that  the  game  was  played  on  Manhattan  Island  nearly 
two  centuries  ago.  A  chess-board,  backgammon-table, 
card-table,  magic-lantern,  harpsichord,  clapsichord,  double 
courtell,  tenor  fiddle,  large  bass  violin,  two  treble  violins 
and  two  brass  trumpets  testify  that  music  and  games  were 
played  in  the  Governor's  mansion.  His  cellar  was  well 
stocked. 

The  "  embowed  chairs  "  that  occur  in  the  above  in- 
ventory were  of  that  style  that  is  now  generally  called 
"Chippendale."    The  top  bar  was  bow-shaped,  and  perhaps 

276 


THE  FURNITURE  OK  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


the  word  embowed  also  included  the  cabriole  leg.  Plate- 
back  chairs,  examples  of  which  appear  on  this  page,  fre- 
quently occur  in  the  inventories.  These  were  chairs  with 
solid  splats,  the  outlines  of  which  assumed  various  forms, 
that  of  the  jar  prevailing.  An  excellent  specimen  of  this 
chair,  that  belonged  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  and  is  now  in  the 
old  State  House,  Boston,  is  shown  on  page  276.  Here 


DUTCH  CHAIRS 
Owned  by  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  Worcester,  Mass. 


we  have  the  jar-shaped  splat,  embowed  top-rail,  and  cabriole 
leg  ending  in  hoof  feet.  Dutch  chairs  of  kindred  model 
appear  on  page  295  and  facing  page  286.  For  decorative 
purposes,  this  splat  was  perforated  with  a  heart  or  some 
geometrical  figure,  and  from  this  the  step  from  plate  to  bar 
tracery  was  a  very  simple  one.  This  development  is  ap- 
parent before  Chippendale  is  known  to  have  been  at  work. 
In  the  Dublin  museum  there  is  a  very  early  example  of  a 
mahogany  arm-chair,  attributed  to  about  1710,  which  has 

277 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


a  square  back  with  scrolled  top-bar,  back-rail  of  openwork 
with  interlacing  design,  plain  arms,  square  back  legs,  and 
incurving,  tapering  front  legs  ending  in  hoofs.  Another 
mahogany  chair  in  the  same  collection,  made  in  1710,  has 
the  cabriole  leg  and  other  characteristics  of  the  new  style. 
There  are  slight  curves  in  the  back,  and  the  splat  is  un- 
pierced.  Instead  of  having  a  hollowed  wooden  seat  for 
the  cushion,  the  latter  is  placed  on  a  network  of  tapes. 
By  1730,  the  solid  splat  has  entirely  gone  out  of  fashion  :  it 
is  now  sometimes  carved  into  ribbons  formed  into  loops. 

Sir  William  Burnet's  chairs,  shown  facing  page  274, 
which  were  bought  in  1727,  are  good  examples  of  the 
"  embowed  "  chair.  These  chairs,  of  which  there  are  ten, 
together  with  the  handsome  mahogany  ball-and-claw  foot 
table  shown  on  opposite  page,  are  owned  by  the  Yale  Univer- 
sity Library,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Abram  Bishop  of  New  Haven 
in  1829.  According  to  Professor  Silliman's  account,  they 
were  imported  in  1727  by  Sir  William  Burnet,  and  passed 
after  his  death  into  possession  of  his  successor,  Governor 
Belcher.  Mr.  P.  N.  Smith  bought  them  at  auction,  and 
Mr.  Bishop  obtained  them  from  Mr.  Smith. 

We  have  now  reached  a  date,  therefore,  at  which  the 
mahogany  furniture,  still  so  greatly  prized,  might  be  pro- 
cured by  those  who  cared  to  pay  for  it.  During  the  rest 
of  our  period,  the  tendency  was  towards  greater  lightness 
and  grace  of  line.  We  will  not  dwell  any  further  on  the 
contents  of  individual  houses,  but  turn  to  the  newspapers 
of  the  day  and  note  the  goods  and  novelties  that  were  im- 
ported and  those  that  were  made  here  by  local  shopkeepers. 

It  is  plain  that  English  and  foreign  skilled  workmen 
came  here  in  large  numbers  and  found  employment.  The 
upholsterers  alone  were  a  numerous  body.     The  kind  of 

278 


Is, 
to 


w  I 

<  3 

O  § 

c  - 

EC  I 

5  °? 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


work  upholsterers  did  during  this  period,  and  the  goods 
they  kept  on  sale,  are  fully  advertised. 

A  handsome  upholstered  settee  of  the  period,  with  ball 
and  claw  feet  and  carved  with  the  acanthus  leaf,  is  owned 
by  Gerald  Beekman,  Esq.,  and  is  shown  below. 


i 


SETTEE 

Owned  by  Gerald  Beekman,  Esq.,  New  York. 


A  bedstead  of  the  period  is  shown  on  page  281.  It  is 
owned  by  Mr.  William  Livingston  Mynderse,  of  Sche- 
nectady, N.  Y.  The  old  blue  and  white  curtains  that 
drape  it  were  originally  in  the  Glen-Sanders  house,  Scotia, 
N.  Y. 

Bed  furnishings  were  sold  in  bewildering  varieties. 
Sometimes  the  bed  and  curtains  complete  are  offered 
for  sale.     John  Searson  has  a  yellow  silk  damask  bed, 

279 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


bedstead  and  sacking  bottom,  in  1763.  We  also  note 
a  mahogany  bedstead  with  silk  and  worsted  damask 
curtains,  1764;  and  a  moreen  bed'  and  curtains,  1773. 
Some  of  the  gay  materials  supplied  for  bed  furnishings 
are  as  follows  :  yellow  camblet  laced,  1 73 1  ;  corded  dimities, 
1  749  ;  russels  and  flowered  damasks,  1750;  flowered  russels, 
1  758  ;  blue  and  green  flowered  russel  damask,  and  blue  cur- 
tain calico,  1759;  checked  and  striped  linen  for  beds  and 
windows,  1 760  ;  chintz  and  cotton  furniture  for  beds,  1  765  ; 
fine  bordered  chintzes  elegantly  pencilled,  and  copper-plate 
bed  furniture,  1770  ;  blue  and  white,  red  and  white  copper- 
plate cottons  ;  red  and  white,  blue  and  white,  and  purple  furni- 
ture calicoes,  1 77 1  ;  and  India,  English,  and  Patna  chintzes, 
1  774.  In  1 774,  Woodward  &  Kip,  near  the  Fly  Market,  have 
"  fine  laylock  and  fancy  callicoes,  red,  blue,  and  purple,  fine 
copper  plate  ditto,  laylock  lutestring,  light  figured,  fancy, 
shell,  Pompadour  and  French  ground  fine  chintzes.  Purple, 
blue  and  red  copper-plate  furniture  calicoes,  ditto  furniture 
bindings,  and  black,  blue,  brown,  Saxon ;  green,  pea-green, 
yellow,  crimson,  garnet,  pink  and  purple  moreens."* 

It  will  be  noticed  that  plain  white  curtains  do  not  pre- 
dominate. We  also  note  bed  cords,  silk  and  worsted  bed 
lace,  and  silk  fringe  and  snail  trimmings  of  all  colours. 
"  Jillmills  for  musketto  curtains"  are  sold  in  1750;  "col- 
oured lawns  and  gauzes,  plain,  spotted  and  flowered  for 
musqueto  hangings,"  1760;  and  white  and  green  catgut 
tor  ditto,  1772.  The  upholsterers'  announcements  clearly 
show  the  work  undertaken  by  them,  and  the  successive  pre- 
vailing styles.  Paper-hanging  was  evidently  an  important 
part  of  the  business,  and  the  walls  of  the  better  houses  were 
papered  before  the  middle  of  the  century. 

*  The  last  chapter  ot  this  work  deals  further  with  upholstery. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Among  the  advertisements  we  find  : 
"  Stained  paper  for  hangings,"  imported  in  the  snow  Nep- 
tune (1750);  an  "assortment  of  paper  hanging  "  (1750); 


MAHOGANY  BEDSTEAD 
Owned  by  Mr.  William  Livingston  Mynderse,  Schenectady.     See  page  279. 

"flowered  paper"  (1751);  "  a  curious  assortment  of  pa- 
per hangings",  brought  by  the  snow  Irene  (1752); 
"  printed  paper  for  hanging  rooms"  (1760)  ;  Roper  Daw- 
son offers  "  a  great  variety  of  paper  for  hangings,  stucco 

281 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


paper  for  ceilings,  etc.,  gilt  leather"  (1760)  ;  James  Des- 
brosses  has  "  a  large  variety  of  paper  hangings,"  arrived 
from  London  in  the  brig  Polly  (1761);  Henry  Remsen 
"an  assortment  of  paper  for  hangings"  (1762)  ;  William 
Wilson,  Hanover  Square,  "  a  variety  of  flowered  hanging 
paper  "  imported  in  the  Albany  ( 1762)  ;  "  gilt  paper  hang- 
ings "  (1765)  ;  and  William  Bailey  imports  in  the  Samson 
from  London  "  a  large  assortment  of  paper  hangings  of 
the  newest  fashions."  Some  interesting  wall  paper  of  the 
period,  the  chief  features  of  which  are  four  large  pictures 
of  the  Seasons,  is  owned  by  Mr.  William  Bayard  Van  Rens- 
selaer in  Albany,  having  been  taken  from  the  walls  of  the 
Van  Rensselaer  manor  house  (built  in  1765)  before  it  was 
demolished  a  few  years  ago. 

In  the  average  house,  however,  if  we  may  believe  a 
contemporary  eye-witness,  the  walls  were  not  papered. 
Kalm,  a  Swedish  botanist,  describes  New  York  in  1748  as 
follows:  "Most  of  the  houses  are  built  of  bricks;  and  are 
generally  strong  and  neat,  and  several  stories  high.  Some 
had,  according  to  old  architecture,  turned  the  gable-end 
towards  the  streets  ;  but  the  new  houses  were  altered  in  this 
respect.  Many  of  the  houses  had  a  balcony  on  the  roof, 
on  which  the  people  used  to  sit  in  the  evenings  in  the 
summer  season  ;  and  from  thence  they  had  a  pleasant  view 
of  a  great  part  of  the  town,  and  likewise  of  part  of  the 
adjacent  water  and  of  the  opposite  shore.  The  walls  were 
whitewashed  within,  and  I  did  not  anywhere  see  hangings, 
with  which  the  people  in  this  country  seem  in  general  to 
be  little  acquainted.  The  walls  were  quite  covered  with  all 
sorts  of  drawings  and  pictures  in  small  frames.  On  each  side 
of  the  chimnies  they  usually  had  a  sort  of  alcove;  and  the 
wall  under  the  windows  was  wainscoted,  and  had  benches 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


placed  near  it.  The  alcoves  and  all  the  woodwork  were 
painted  with  a  bluish  grey  colour." 

About  the  middle  of  the  century,  we  find  traces  of  the 
revived  taste  for  the  Gothic  style,  and  the  fashion  of  fitting 
up  rooms  in  various  ancient  and  modern  foreign  modes. 
Thus  in  1758,  we  have  a  certain  Theophilus  Hardenbrook, 
surveyor,  announcing  that  he  designs  all  sorts  of  buildings, 
pavilions,  summer  rooms,  seats  for  gardens,  etc.;  also  "  all 
sorts  of  Rooms  after  the  taste  of  the  Arabian,  Chinese, 
Persian,  Gothic,  Muscovite,  Paladian,  Roman,  Vitruvian 
and  Egyptian  .  .  .  Green  houses  for  the  preservation  of 
Herbs  with  winding  Funnels  through  the  walls  so  as  to 
keep  them  warm.  Note  :  He  designs  and  executes  beau- 
tiful Chimney-pieces  as  any  here  yet  executed.  Said  Har- 
denbrook has  now  open'd  a  school  near  the  New  English 
Church  where  he  teaches  Architecture  from  6  o'clock  in 
the  Evening  till  Eight." 

"  In  the  City  of  New  York,  through  our  intercourse 
with  Europeans,  we  follow  the  London  fashions  ;  though 
by  the  time  we  adopt  them,  they  become  disused  in  Eng- 
land. Our  affluence,  during  the  late  war,  introduced  a 
degree  of  luxury  in  tables,  dress,  and  furniture,  with  which 
we  were  before  unacquainted.  But  still  we  are  not  so  gay 
a  people  as  our  neighbours  at  Boston,  and  several  of  the 
Southern  colonies.  The  Dutch  counties,  in  some  measure, 
follow  the  example  of  New  York,  but  still  retain  many 
modes  peculiar  to  Hollanders.  The  City  of  New  York 
consists  principally  of  merchants,  shopkeepers,  and  trades- 
men who  sustain  the  reputation  of  honest,  punctual  and 
fair  dealers.  With  respect  to  riches  there  is  not  so  great 
an  inequality  among  us  as  is  common  in  Boston,  and  some 
other  places.     Every  man  of  industry  and  integrity  has  it 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


in  his  power  to  live  well,  and  many  are  the  instances  of 
persons  who  came  here  distressed  by  their  poverty,  who 
now  enjoy  easy  and  plentiful  fortunes." 

The  above  is  a  contemporary  description  of  the  city  in 
1756.  The  writer  is  speaking  of  the  old  conservative 
element  in  the  community  that  is  always  slow  to  adopt 
new  fashions.  The  richest  families,  and  the  members  of 
the  aristocratic  class  in  England  who  had  their  permanent 
or  temporary  residence  here,  and  there  were  many  of  these, 
were  supplied  with  the  latest  modes  in  furniture  as  well  as 
in  costume  as  quickly  here  as  they  were  in  London.  In  tes- 
timony of  this  see  page  115. 

James  Rivington,  Hanover  Square,  has  for  sale  in  1760: 
"  Books  for  Architects,  Builders,  Joiners,  etc.,  particularly 
an  entire  new  work  entitled  Household  Furniture  for  the 
Tear  Ij6o,  by  a  society  of  Upholsterers ,  Cabinet-Makers,  etc., 
containing  upwards  of  180  Designs  consisting  of  Tea-Tables, 
Dressing,  Card,  Writing,  Library,  and  Slab  Tables,  Chairs, 
Stools,  Couches,  Trays,  Chests,  Tea-Kettles,  Bureaus,  Beds, 
Ornamental  Bed  Posts,  Cornishes,  Brackets,  Fire- Screens,  Desk 
and  Book  Cases,  Sconces,  Chimney-Pieces,  Girandoles,  Lan- 
thorns,  etc.,  with  Scales." 

The  above  book  was  for  sale  here  in  the  same  year  in 
which  it  was  published  in  London.  It  is  therefore  plain 
that  the  native  cabinet-makers  could,  and  undoubtedly  did, 
make  the  newest  styles  of  furniture  here  within  a  very  few 
months  of  their  appearance  in  London.  In  1748,  Kalm 
says  that  the  native  joiners  used  the  black  walnut,  wild 
cherry,  and  the  curled  maple  principally.  "  Of  the  black 
walnut-trees  (fuglans  nigra)  there  is  yet  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity. However,  careless  people  take  pains  enough  to 
destroy  them,  and  some  peasants  even  use  them  as  fewel. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


The  wood  of  the  wild  cherry-trees  [Prunus  Virginiana)  is 
very  good  and  looks  exceedingly  well ;  it  has  a  yellow 
colour,  and  the  older  the  furniture  is,  which  is  made  of  it, 
the  better  it  looks.  But  it  is  already  difficult  to  get  at  it, 
for  they  cut  it  everywhere  and  plant  it  nowhere.  The 
curled  maple  [Acer  rubrurri)  is  a  species  of  the  common  red 
maple,  but  likewise  very  difficult  to  be  got.  .  .  .  The  wood 
of  the  sweet  gum-tree  (Liquidambar)  is  merely  employed  in 
joiner's  work,  such  as  tables,  and  other  furniture.  But  it 
must  not  be  brought  near  the  fire,  because  it  warps.  The 
firs  and  the  white  cedars  (Cupressus  thyoides\  are  likewise 
made  use  of  by  the  joiners  for  different  sorts  of  work." 

Cedar  was  brought  from  the  Bermudas  and  Barbadoes. 
In  describing  the  latter  in  1741,  a  writer  says: 

"  The  first  and  fairest  tree  of  the  forest  is  the  Cedar  ; 
'tis  the  most  useful  timber  in  the  island,  strong,  lasting, 
light  and  proper  for  building.  There  have  been  great 
quantities  of  it  sent  to  England  tor  Wainscoting,  Stair- 
Cases,  Drawers,  Chairs  and  other  Household  Furniture ; 
but  the  smell,  which  is  so  pleasing  to  some  being  offensive 
to  others,  added  to  the  Cost,  has  hindered  its  coming  so 
much  in  Fashion  as  otherwise  it  would." 

In  1745,  Sheffield  Howard  advertised  mahogany  plank. 
The  Success  brought  in  Braziletto  wood  in  1758  ;  William 
Gilliland  imported  mahogany  plank  in  1760;  and  "a  par- 
cel of  choice  red  cedar,  fit  for  either  joiners  or  house  car- 
penters," was  sold  in  1761.  In  1770,  "A  quantity  of  ma- 
hogany in  logs  and  planks  of  different  dimensions  and  brass 
furniture  for  desks  and  bookcases  of  the  newest  fashion  " 
came  to  public  vendue  ;  and  Stanton  and  Ten  Brook  on 
Deys  Dock  offered  pine,  cedar  and  "  mahogany  of  all  sorts 
for  joiners'  work." 

285 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


A  cargo  of  60,000  feet  of  choice  large  bay  mahogany 
was  sold  in  1772,  and  another  cargo  the  following  year. 

In  addition  to  choice  timber,  metal  furnishings  for 
cabinet  ware  were  readily  obtainable.  In  1745,  Thomas 
Brown,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Cross  Daggers  in  the  Smith's 
Fly,  sold  ironmongery  and  all  materials  for  cabinet-makers. 
Among  other  announcements  of  this  class  of  ware,  we  find 
bolts  and  latches  for  doors;  drawer,  desk,  cabinet  and  chest 
locks  ;  "  polished  brass  handles  and  locks  in  sute  for  writ- 
ing desks,  closets  and  door  locks  of  sundry  sorts";  hand- 
some brass  locks  for  parlours  ;  "  all  sorts  of  locks  and  brass 
handles  "  ;  "  closet,  chest,  and  cupboard  locks  ;  rimmed 
and  brass  knobed  do."  ;  "  brass  ring  drops  "  ;  desk  and  tea 
chest  furniture ;  brass  knockers,  knobs  for  street  doors,  brass 
locks,  copper  chafing  dishes,  and  brass  curtain  rings,  1750; 
"  bookcase  and  escrutore  setts,  brass  handles  and  escutcheons," 
1  75  1  ;  "  brass  and  wood  casters,  curtain  rings,  brass  knobs 
and  all  Sorts  of  locks,  desk  suits,"  1752  ;  brass  chair  nails, 
"  brass  handles  and  escutcheons  of  the  newest  fashion," 
"HHL  hinges,"  chest  ditto,  table  hinges,  table  catches  ; 
"  locks  in  suits  for  desks  "  ;  "  single  and  double  spring, 
chest  locks  "  ;  a  large  variety  of  brass  furniture,  etc.,  for 
desks  and  chests  of  drawers  ;  brass  handles  for  desks  and 
drawers,  and  brass  hinges  and  casters,  1758. 

It  would  seem  that  it  was  not  unusual  for  some  people 
to  supply  their  own  timber,  etc.,  to  have  made  up  accord- 
ing to  their  own  fancy.  In  1751,  John  Tremain,  "having 
declined  the  stage,  proposes  to  follow  his  business  as  a  cab- 
inet-maker." Among  the  inducements  he  offers  for  cus- 
tom, he  says  : 

"  Those  who  incline  to  find  their  own  Stuff,  may  have 
it  work'd  up  with  Despatch,  Honesty,  and  Faithfulness." 

286 


MAHOGANY  CHAIR 

Owned  by  Mr.   William   E.    Ver   Planck,  Fishkill, 
N.  V.     See  page  2Q0. 

DUTCH  CHAIR 

Owned  by  Mr.  Gardner  C.  Leonard,  Albany. 
See  page  24S. 


CARVED  OAK  ARM  CHAIR 

See  page  .?.//. 

CHAIR 

From  tbe  Schuyler  House  on  the  Flats,  New  }  'oi 
See  page  24S. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Cabinet-making,  moreover,  seems  to  have  been  a 
favorite  occupation  with  some  amateurs  at  that  date,  for  we 
find  "  chests  of  tools  for  the  use  of  gentlemen  who  amuse 
themselves  in  turning  and  other  branches  of  the  mechanic 
art,"  for  sale  in  1 77 1 . 

Many  of  the  cabinet-makers  of  New  York  carried  on 
an  importing  as  well  as  a  manufacturing  business.  There 
were  skilled  workmen  here  who  had  been  trained  abroad 
and  could  produce  furniture  as  good  as  the  best  foreign 
article.  In  1753,  "  Robert  Wallace,  joyner,  living  in  Bea- 
ver Street,  at  the  Corner  of  New  Street,  makes  all  sorts  of 
Cabinets,  Scrutores,  Desks  and  Book  cases,  Drawers,  Ta- 
bles, either  square,  round,  oval,  or  quadrile,  and  chairs  of 
any  fashion." 

Solomon  Hays  at  his  store,  Beaver  Street  and  Broad 
Street,  offers,  in  1754,  "a  choice  assortment  of  India,  Ja- 
pan gilded  Tea  Tables,  square  Dressing  ditto  of  which 
Sort  none  were  ever  before  in  America  ;  beautiful  sets  of 
Tea  Boards,  answerable  to  the  Tea  Tables  ;  fine  marble 
Tea  Tables  with  complete  sets  of  cups  and  saucers  in 
Boxes  for  little  Misses." 

"  Stephen  Dwight,  late  an  apprentice  to  Henry  Hard- 
castle,  carver,"  in  1755  sets  up  business  "between  the 
Ferry  Stairs  and  Burling  Slip,  where  he  carves  all  sorts  of 
ship  and  house  work  ;  also  tables,  chairs,  picture  and  look- 
ing-glass frames,  and  all  kinds  of  work  for  cabinet-makers, 
in  the  best  manner  and  on  reasonable  terms." 

Gilbert  Ash  had  a  "  Shop-joiner  or  cabinet-business  in 
Wall  Street,  in  1759;  and  Charles  Shipman  comes  from 
England  and,  in  1767,  settles  near  the  Old  Slip.  He  is  an 
ivory  and  hard  wood  turner,  "  having  been  an  apprentice 
to  a  Turning-Manufactory  at  Birmingham."     He  makes 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


"mahogany  waiters  and  bottle  stands,  pepper-boxes,  patch- 
boxes,  washball  boxes,  soap-boxes,  pounce-boxes,  glove- 
sticks,  etc.,  etc." 

Flagg  and  Searle  of  Broad  Street,  in  1765,  announce 
"japanning  and  lacquering  after  the  neatest  manner." 

In  1762,  we  rind  "John  Brinner,  cabinet  and  chair- 
maker  from  London  at  the  Sign  of  the  Chair,  opposite  Flat- 
ten Barrack  Hill,  in  the  Broad- Way,  New  York,  where 
every  article  in  the  Cabinet,  Chair-making,  Carving  and 
Gilding  Business,  is  enacted  on  the  most  reasonable  Terms, 
with  the  Utmost  Neatness  and  Punctuality.  He  carves  all 
Sorts  of  Architectural,  Gothic,  and  Chinese  Chimney-Pieces, 
Glass  and  Picture  Frames,  Slab  Frames,  Girondels,  Chan- 
daliers,  and  all  kinds  of  Mouldings  and  Frontispieces,  etc., 
etc.  Desk  and  Book  Cases,  Library  Book  Cases,  Writing 
and  Reading  Tables,  Study  Tables,  China  Shelves  and  Cases, 
Commode  and  Plain  Chest  of  Drawers,  Gothic  and  Chinese 
chairs  ;  all  sorts  of  plain  or  ornamental  Chairs,  Sofa  Beds, 
Sofa  Settees,  Couch  and  easy  Chairs,  Frames,  all  kinds  of 
Field  Bedsteads,  etc.,  etc." 

"  N.  B.  He  has  brought  over  from  London  six  Artifi- 
cers, well  skilled  in  the  above  branches." 

A  few  months  later  he  announces  "  a  neat  mahogany 
desk  and  a  bookcase  in  the  Chinese  taste." 

Jane  Wilson  has  "  japan'd  goods  with  cream  coloured 
grounds,  and  other  colours  of  the  newest  taste  ;  The  mod- 
els also  are  new  constructions,  some  of  them  only  finished 
last  May  at  Birmingham  and  imported  to  New  York  the 
4th  inst.  in  the  ship  Hope ;  consisting  of  tea  trays  and 
waiters,  tea  chests  compleated  with  cannisters,  tea  kitchen 
and  compleat  tea  tables,  ornamented  with  well  painted 
landskips,  human  figures,  fruit  and  flowers." 

288 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


MAHOGANY  CHAIRS 
Owned  by  Mr.  William  E.  Ver  Planck,  Fishkill,  N.  Y.     See  page  290. 


The  painted  table  appears  in  many  of  the  early  inven- 
tories. Those  of  Dutch  and  French  workmanship,  deco- 
rated with  flowers  and  birds  and  sometimes  historical  and 
mythological  subjects,  were  quite  expensive.  An  elaborate 
example  of  this  class  appears  facing  page  298.  It  belongs 
to  Miss  Katharine  Van  Rensselaer,  at  Vlie  House,  Rens- 
selaer, N.  Y. 

Specimens  of  the  more  luxurious  furniture  of  the  period 
are  shown  on  the  frontispiece  and  facing  page  282.  This 
beautiful  set  of  Gobelin  tapestry,  consisting  of  two  large 
sofas,  two  tabourets  and  eighteen  chairs,  was  imported  for 
the  ball-room  of  Moinit  Pleasant,  the  Beekman  home  on 
First  Avenue  and  Fifty-first  Street,  New  York.  The 
house,  which  was  built  in   1763  by  James  Beekman  and 

289 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


remained  standing  until  1874,  was  associated  with  many 
historic  characters  and  events.  It  was  the  headquarters  of 
General  Charles  Clinton  and  Sir  William  Howe.  Andre 
slept  here  before  he  left  for  West  Point,  and  Nathan  Hale 
was  tried  and  convicted  as  a  spy  in  its  greenhouse.  The 
furniture  preserves  its  original  mounts;  the  sofas  and 
tabourets  show  hunting  and  pastoral  scenes,  and  each  chair 
presents  a  different  illustration  from  Msop's  Fables. 


TWO   MAHOGANY   CHAIRS    FROM    THE    GANSEVOORT   FAMILY,   AND   A  CHAIR 
FROM    THE   SCHUYLER  FAMILY 


Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Abraham  Lansing,  Albany. 

The  handsome  chair  facing  page  286  (top  left-hand 
corner)  is  one  of  a  set  of  twelve  brought  to  New  York 
in  1763  by  Judith  Crommelin  of  Amsterdam,  who  was 
married  to  Samuel  Verplanck.  This  couple  settled  in 
Fishkill,  and  the  chair  is  now  in  the  Verplanck  home,  there 
owned  by  Mr.  William  E.  Verplanck.  The  chair  is  hand- 
somely carved,  and  preserves  its  original  yellow  damask. 

The  interesting  chairs,  with  Turkey-work  seats,  repre- 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


sented  on  page  289,  are  also  owned 
by  Mr.  William  E.  Verplanck  at  Fish- 
kill,  New  York. 

Two  chairs  from  the  Gansevoort 
family  appear  on  page   290,  with  a 
Schuyler  chair.     All  three  specimens 
are  owned  by  Mrs.  Abraham  Lansing 
of  Albany.     Another  chair  belonging 
to  the  Gansevoorts,  and  shown 
on  this  page,  is   owned  by 
Mrs.  Blanche  Douw  Allen  of 
New  York.     The  top-rail  is 
bow-shaped,  the  splat  pierced 
and  carved,  the  seat  is  rush- 
bottomed,  and  the  two  front 
legs    end    in    curious  dog- 
shaped  claws. 

The  chair,  on  page  292, 
in  the  Schuyler  house  oppo- 
site "  the  Flats  "  near  Al- 
bany, belonged  to  Stephen  Schuyler,  and  is   owned  by 
Mr.  Stephen  Schuyler. 

An  early  example  of  a  "  wing  chair,"  or  "  saddle- 
check  chair,"  appears  on  page  293.  This  belongs  to 
Mrs.  Harriet  Van  Rensselaer  Gould  of  East  Orange,  New 
Jersey,  and  is  kept  in  the  Van  Rensselaer  house,  Cherry 
Hill,  Albany.  This  is  one  of  the  old  Van  Rensselaer 
pieces,  and  is  covered  with  a  sort  of  brown  matting, 
much  worn.  This  kind  of  chair  is  usually  covered 
with  chintz,  and  a  deep  flounce,  or  ruffle,  nearly  hides  the 
feet. 

The  corner  chair  shown  on  page  294  was  the  property 


CHAIR 

Owned  by  Mrs..  Blanche  Douw  Allen,  New  York. 


19  1 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


of  John  Stevenson,  and  descended  through  his  grandson  of 
the  same  name  to  Mrs.  Augustus  Walsh,  of  Alhany. 

"  Minshiell's  Looking  Glass  Store, 
removed  from  Smith  Street  to  Hanover 
Square  (opposite  Mr.  Goelet's  the  sign 
of  the  Golden  Key),  has  for  sale  "an 
elegant  assortment  of  looking-glasses 
in  oval  and  square  ornamental  frames, 
ditto  mahogany ;  the  greatest  variety 
of  girandoles   ever  imported   to  this 
city ;  brackets  for  busts 
■  or  lustres,  ornaments  for 
chimney-pieces   as  tab- 
lets, friezes,  etc.  Birds 
and  baskets  of  flowers, 
for   the   top   of  book- 
cases or  glass  frames,  gilt 
bordering  for  rooms  by 
the    yard.  Engravings 
by  Strange,  Woollet,  Vi- 
vares,  and  other  eminent 
masters.    A  pleasing  va- 
riety   of  mezzotintoes 
well  chosen  and  beauti- 


OLD  OAK  CHAIR 


Owned  by  Stephen  Schuyler,  now  by  his  descendant,  Mr.  fully  coloured.  Also  an 
Stephen  Schuyler,  Troy  Road,  N.  Y.  .  r 

elegant  assortment  or 
frames  without  glass.  Any  Lady  or  Gentleman  that  have 
glass  in  old  fashioned  frames  may  have  them  cut  to  ovals, 
or  put  in  any  pattern  that  pleases  them  best.  The  above 
frames  may  be  finished  white,  or  green  and  white,  purple,  or 
any  other  colour  that  suits  the  furniture  of  the  room,  or  gilt 
in  oil  or  burnished  gold  equal  to  the  best  imported."  ( i  775.) 

292 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Italian  marble  ta- 
bles are  imported  in 
1750;  "fashionable 
chairs  "  are  offered  by 
Sidney  Breese  in  1757; 
Samuel  Parker  imports 
in  the  Dove  "  a  very 
complete  London  made 
mahogany  buroe  and 
bookcase  and  other  fur- 


in  a- 


niture  "  ( 1 762 
hogany  furniture  and  a 
fine  damask  bed  come 
to  public  vendue  in 
1764;  "japanned  stands 
of  all  prices  beautifully 
ornamented   and  gilt  " 


OLD   u  WING  "    or   "  SADDLE-CHECK  "  CHAIR 

Owned  by  Mrs.  H.  Van  Rensselaer  Gould,  at  Cherry  Hill, 


are  imported  by  Duyc-  Albany-  ^p^2^- 
kinck,  1764;  and  handsome  chairs  with  damask  seats  and 
backs  are  advertised  in  1765.  Thomas  Fogg  offers  "a 
quantity  of  worsted  furniture,"  and  W.  N.  Stuyvesant 
auctions  "some  mahogany  chairs,"  1765;  Nicholas  Car- 
mer,  Maiden  Lane,  imports  "  a  neat  parcel  of  mahogany 
chairs  and  desks  and  bookcases,  tables,  etc.,  and  a  parcel  of 
mahogany  plank,"  1767;  "some  choice  marble  slabs  for 
side  tables  "  are  offered  cheap  by  Captain  William  Stewart, 
on  King  Street,  1767;  "a  mahogany  fluted  double  chest 
of  drawers,  a  microscope,  a  good  Wilton  carpet,  two  bed- 
side ditto,  and  three  sets  fire  furniture  "  come  to  public 
vendue  in  1768  ;  "  beautiful  mahogany  chairs"  and  "chests 
upon  chests"  are  sold  in  1769  ;  crimson  worsted  furniture, 
1770;    "parcel  of  mahogany  desk,  desk  and  bookcase, 

293 


I 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


chest  upon  chest,  dining  tables,  tea  tables,  stands,  and 
buroes,  mahogany  cases  with  knives  and  forks,"  i  77 1 . 

The  above  extracts  are  ample  to  show  the  kind  of  fur- 
niture that  was  imported  and  that  was  made  in  New  York. 
Boston  and  Philadelphia  also  produced  a  lot  of  cabinet- 
work which  occasionally  is  offered  for  sale  in  the  papers. 


CORNER  CHAIR 

Originally  belonging  to  John  Stevenson,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Augustus  Walsh,  Albany.      See  page  291. 

Garrit  Van  Home  Fisher,  at  his  store  in  Smith  Street, 
"  has  some  neat  black  walnut  Boston  made  chairs  with 
leather  seats  to  dispose  of"  (1759)  ;  and  Perry  Hayes  and 
Sherbroke  advertise  "  Philadelphia  made  Windsor  chairs  " 
(1763). 

Two  old  chairs  from  the  Van  Cortlandt  House,  Croton- 
on-the-Hudson,  are  shown  on  the  opposite  page. 

We  learn  that  the  floors  of  the  average  house  were 

294 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


TWO  CHAIRS 


From  the  Van  Cortlandt  House,  Croton-on-the-Hudson,  N.  Y. 

sanded  until  towards  the  middle  of  the  century  when  car- 
pets became  more  general.  In  1747,  bedside  carpets  are 
advertised ;  and,  in  1 749,  bedside  and  floor  carpets.  Tn 
1750,  the  Neptune  brings  in  flowered  carpets.  In  1752,  the 
Mary  has  white  cotton  bed  carpets  ;  the  Nebuchadnezzar, 
haircloth  for  floors  ;  and  the  Irene,  "  painted  floor  cloths 
in  the  handsomest  manner."  Then  appear  successively 
"  Rich  beautiful  Turkey  fashion  carpets,"  1757  ;  "  Persian 
and  Scotch  carpeting  and  ditto  bedsides,"  1758;  Wilton 
and  the  best  Turkey  carpets  of  all  sizes,  1759  ;  stair  cloth, 
Scotch  carpets  and  "  carpeting  for  floors,  chairs  and  tables," 
1760.  Thus  the  word  carpet  is  not  yet  used  exclusively 
as  a  term  for  a  floor  covering.  Next  we  have  carpeting 
lor  stairs,  1762;    painted  floor  cloths  and  entry  cloths, 

295 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


haircloth  for  entries  and  staircases,  and  handsome  mo- 
hair carpeting,  1764.  At  the  same  date,  also,  we  have 
"  Persia,  Scotch,  list,  entry,  Floor,  Bedside,  Table,  and 
painted,"  besides  "  bordering  lists  for  carpitting."  Two 
excellent  Turkey  carpets,  one  of  them  seven  yards  square, 
are  offered  for  sale  in  1765.  Wilton  and  Axminster 
carpets  cost  from  £3  to  £60  in  1 77 1  ;  and  in  the  next 
year  there  are  square  and  list  carpets  for  beds,  and  the 
Hero  brings  some  beautiful  plush  carpeting  from  Ayr. 

"  Brass  rods  for  fixing  carpeting  on  stairs  "  could  be 
had  at  James  Byers,  Brass  Founder,  South  Street,  in  1767  ; 
and  large  brass  and  iron  wire  for  staircases,  1772. 

The  fireplace  was  a  decorative  feature  of  the  room  all 
through  this  period.  Coal  gradually  succeeded  wood  as 
fuel,  and  grates  took  the  place  of  andirons  ;  but  coloured 
tiles  still  made  the  chimney-piece  and  hearth  gay  with 
scriptural,  historical,  and  landscape  subjects.  The  articles 
manufactured  here  and  imported  for  the  decoration  and 
service  of  the  hearth  were  numerous.  A  few  selections 
from  this  class  of  goods  include  the  following  : 

A  marble  chimney-piece,  1744;  "new  fire  places," 
made  by  Robert  Grace  in  Pennsylvania,  1744—5  ;  "a  par- 
cel of  handsome  Scripture  tiles  with  the  Chapter  and  some 
plain  white  ditto,"  1  748  ;  history  and  landscape  tiles,  1750  ; 
marble  hearths,  1 7 5  1  ;  "a  parcel  of  choice  iron  ash  pails 
proper  for  taking  up  hot  ashes  from  hearths  to  let  them 
cool  in";  green  and  yellow  hearth  tiles;  white  and  Script- 
ure galley  tiles ;  steel  hearths  with  mouldings  and  stove 
grates  from  England.  "  Just  imported  from  Bristol  and 
to  be  sold  by  Rip  Van  Dam  a  large  iron  hearth  plate  with 
brass  feet  and  handles,"  1752;  two  handsome  marble 
hearths  with  layers  suited   to  the  hearth  are  offered  in 

296 


MARQUETRY  CHEST    OF  DRAWERS  AND  GLASS  CASE 

Owned  by  Mr.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Ne<w  York.     See  page  2j6. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


1753  ;  John  Beekman  has  some  German  stoves,  iron  backs, 
marble  chimney  fronts  and  marble  tea  tables  for  sale  in 
1757;  carved  and  plain  chimney  backs  are  imported,  1759  ; 
and  chimney  tiles  and  stucco  ornaments  for  ceilings  and 
chimney-pieces  are  sold  by  Bernard  Lintot,  1760.  "Ger- 
man cast  iron  stoves  round  and  square,  handsome  marble 
chimney  fronts  and  hearth  stones,  hearth  and  Jam  tiles  " 
are  for  sale  by  Robert  Crommelin,  1761  ;  "mantel-pieces, 
iron  grates  for  coals,  Scripture  and  landskip  chimney  tiles, 
Boston  do.,  for  oven  floors  and  hearths,"  1  764  ;  best  blue  and 
white  landscape  tiles,  common  do.,  and  purple  best  do. ;  and 
open  work  mahogany  mantelpieces,  1765.  Red  and  blue 
hearth  tiles  are  sold  by  Samuel  Verplanck,  1765.  James 
Byers,  brass  founder  in  South  Street,  makes  "  brass  mouldings 
to  cover  the  edges  of  marble  or  tiled  fire  places,"  1768  ; 
"  marble  hearths  very  beautifully  variegated  with  different 
colours"  are  sold  by  Philip  Livingston  at  his  store,  Burnet's 
Quay  ;  and  elegant  grates  or  Bath  stoves  are  imported  in 
1768.  Samuel  Francis,  Vauxhall  Gardens,  offers  "two 
carved  formitif  pieces  for  a  fire  place  "  ;  and  several  sets 
of  very  curious  Italian,  Derbyshire,  and  Kilkenny  marble 
for  fireplaces  just  imported  from  London  are  sold  by  Walter 
Franklin  &  Co.,  1770. 

From  1 75  1  to  1761,  large  importations  of  china  are 
constantly  advertised,  the  varieties  consisting  chiefly  of  blue 
and  white  earthenware,  Delft,  japanned,  gilded  and  flow- 
ered, green  ware,  Tunbridge  and  Portabella  wares,  blue 
and  enamelled,  "  aggott,"  "  tortoise,"  "  pannel'd  "  and 
Staffordshire  Flint  ware.'  In  1765,  James  Gilliland  adver- 
tises at  his  Earthen  and  Glass-ware  house  "  flower  horns, 
wash  hand  basins  without  bottles,  pine  apple  and  colly 
flower  coffee  pots,  cream  coloured  tea  pots,  white  tortoise 

297 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


mugs  and  jugs,  coffee  cans,  pearl'd  flower  horns  and  land- 
skip  tortoiseshell  coffee  pots,  black  ware,  white  stone 
tureens,  mallon,  all  with  stands."  "  Agate  and  melloned 
ware"  are  advertised  in  1766;  "white  and  enamelled  tea 
table  setts,  white  and  burnt  China  bowls  from  y2  pint  to 
3  gallons,  quart  and  pint  mugs,  jars  and  beakers,  sauce 
boats,  spoon  boats,  children's  tea  table  sets,  dining  sets 
ranging  from  1  6  to  24  guineas,  blue  and  white  enamelled 
china,  blue  and  white  landscape  china,  enamell'd  white 
gilt  landscape,  nankin,  brown  edged  sprig  and  duck  break- 
fast cups  and  saucers,  black  and  white  ribbed  and  engraved 
sauce  boats,  sugar  dishes,  enamelled  gilt  image  and  sprig 
damasked  tea  pots,  enamelled  coffee  cans  and  saucers,  pen- 
cilled china,  burnt  china,  blue  and  white  china,  white 
quilted  and  plain  sugar  dishes,  cream  jugs,  flower  jars,  etc.," 
are  imported  from  London  and  Bristol  in  1767.  "A 
parcel  of  china  useful  and  ornamental,  Queen's  or  yellow 
ware,  delf  and  black  earthenware"  is  offered  in  1769. 
An  earthenware  manufactory  is  started  at  Norwich,  Conn., 
in  1 77 1,  and  although  domestic  productions  constantly 
appear,  the  ships  continually  bring  in  china  and  earthen- 
ware of  new  patterns  and  shapes.  "  Enamelled  salt  cellars 
pink,  blue  and  green,"  and  "one  dozen  very  handsome 
caudle  cups  and  saucers"  are  advertised  in  1 77 1 ,  and  in 
the  next  year  John  J.  Roosevelt,  Maiden  Lane,  imports 
from  England  "  an  elegant  assortment  of  burnt  china  jars 
and  beakers,  fruit  baskets,  butter  tubs,  sauce  boats  and 
pickel  leaves."  George  Bell,  Bayard  Street,  has  "  burnt 
china,  quilted  china,  pencil'd  china,  blue  and  white  Queen's 
ware,  Delph,  stone  enamell'd  black,"  etc.,  in  1773;  at 
Rhinelander's  store  in  1  774,  there  was  "  a  fine  assortment  of 
china,  including  blue  and  white,  blue  and  gold,  purple  and 


OVAL  PAINTED  TABLE 

Owned  by  Miss  Katharine  Fan  Rensselaer,  Vlie  House,  Rensselaer,  N.  Y.     See  page  289. 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


gold  and  enamelled  and  burnt."  "  Several  very  elegant  sets 
of  Dresden  tea  table  china  and  ornamental  jars  and  figures 
decorated  and  enriched  in  the  highest  taste  "  are  advertised 
by  Henry  Wilmot,  Hanover  Square,  in  1775.  James 
Byers  was  riveting  broken  china  in  1769,  and  facob  de 
Acosta  repaired  with  cement  (see  page  301). 

Glass  ware  for  the  table  seems  to  have  been  very  plen- 
tiful. Wine,  beer  and  water  glasses,  square  and  round 
tumblers,  cruet  stands  and  cruet  frames,  and  sets  of  castors 
with  silver  tops  appear  from  1744  onward.  Glass  cream 
jugs  are  advertised  in  1752;  "neat  flowered  wine  and 
water  glasses,  glass  salvers,  silver  top  cruit  stands,  a  few 
neat  and  small  enamelled  shank  wine  glasses,  flowered, 
scalloped  and  plain  decanters  jugs  and  mugs,  salver  and 
pyramids,  jelly  and  silly  bub  glasses,  flowered,  plain  and 
enamelled  wine  glasses,  glasses  for  silver  salts  and  sweet 
meat,  poles  with  spires  and  glasses,  smelling  bottles,  scon- 
ces, tulip  and  flower  glasses  of  the  newest  pattern,  finger- 
bowls  and  tumblers  of  all  sorts,"  1762.  Cut  glass  and 
silver  ornamental  cruet  stands  cost  from  10  shillings  to  5 
each  in  1762.  Ten  years  later,  "  ebony  cruet  stands,  jelly 
glasses,  soy  cruets,  carroffs,  wine  and  water  glasses  and 
bottle  stands  "  are  for  sale  by  John  J.  Roosevelt  in  Maiden 
Lane.  Wine  servers  and  "  bottle  slyders  "  appear  in  177 1—2; 
and  "  pearl  labels  for  decanters  "  and  "  corks  with  silver 
tops  for  do."  in  1773.  American  flint  glass  made  at  the 
Stiegel  Works,  Mannheim  is  advertised  in  1770. 

A  partial  list  of  articles  used  in  preparing  and  serving  tea 
includes:  copper  tea-kettles,  1744;  pewter  tea-pots,  1 745  ; 
44  mahogany  tea-boards,"  1749;  tea-chests,  "neat  ponte- 
pool*  japanned  waiters,"  1750  ;  mahogany  tea-chests,  brown 

*  So  called  from  the  town  in  England  where  it  was  made. 
299 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Polish  tea-kettles  with  lamps,  1 75 1  ;  "  japann'd  and  mahog- 
any tea  waiters  of  all  sizes,"  India  tea-boards,  "  tea-chests 
of  all  sizes  mounted  with  plate  and  other  metals,"  Dutch 
kettles,  lamps,  and  coffee-pots,  1752  ;  "best  Holland  ket- 
tles with  riveted  spouts,"  1758  ;  sugar  cleavers  and  bells 
for  tea  tables,  brass  kettles  in  nests,  very  neat  chased  silver 
tea-pots,  sugar  pots,  chased  and  plain,  milk  pots  double 
and  single,  jointed  tea-tongs,  tea  spoons,  1759  ;  cannisters, 
brass  Indian  kettles  in  nests,  mahogany  and  book  tea 
chests,  1760;  nests  of  kettles  to  hold  from  thirty  gallons 
down  to  a  quart,  1761  ;  plated  tea-boards  and  tea-trays, 
1762  ;  tin  kettles  in  nests,  painted" and  plain  sugar  boxes  of 
various  sizes,  japanned  cannisters,  neat  tea  chests  with  can- 
nisters, "  mahogany  tea-boards,  sliders,  tea-trays,  beautifully 
ornamented  japanned  tea  boards,  waiters  and  kettles  hand- 
somely japanned  and  gilt,  Chinese  tea  tongs,  tea  chests  and 
slyders,  the  most  fashionable  octagon  and  square  japann'd, 
finiered  and  inlaid  tea  chests,"  1764;  open  work  mahog- 
any tea-boards,  1765;  "  curious  japann'd  Pontipool  ware, 
viz.,  tea  equipage — a  fine  tea  kitchen  and  waiter,  a 
beautiful  24  inch  rail  tea  tray,  cannister,"  1768;  "one 
handsome  double  bellied  plaited  tea  kitchen  and  stand," 
1768  ;  urns  or  tea  kitchens,  silver  plated,  finely  chased  and 
plain  brown  tea  kitchens,  tea  pots  gilt  and  enamelled  of  the 
finest  ware,  1771  ;  japan'd  tea  tables,  kitchens,  trays,  chests, 
cannisters,  waiters,  bells,  1772;  pearl  and  tortoise  shell 
sugar  tongs,  inlaid  mahogany  tea  chests,  tea  cannisters 
lined  with  lead,  silver  milk  urns,  japann'd  Roman  trays, 
1 773  ;  "polished  Gadrooned  and  fine  open  work  silver  tea 
tongs,  very  fashionable,"  1774. 

Turning  now  to  ornamental  china  used  for  the  decora- 
tion of  mantel-pieces,  as  well  as  for  the  tops  of  chests  of 


300 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


drawers,  escritoires  and  bookcases,  we  rind  among  the 
importations  birds,  baskets  of  flowers  and  busts ;  "  a 
very  curious  parcel  of  plaster  of  Paris  Figures,"  1757; 
"plaster  of  Paris  ornaments  for  chimney-pieces,"  1 758  ; 
"flower  horns,"  1758;  "some  beautiful  ornamental 
chimney-china,"  1766;  "white  stone  ware,  including 
complete  tea-table  toys  for  children,  with  a  great  collection 
of  different  kinds  of  birds,  beasts,  etc.,  in  stone  ware,  very 
ornamental  for  mantle  pieces,  chests  of  drawers,  etc.," 
1767  ;  "  one  set  of  image  china,"  1768  ;  "  a  few  pieces  of 
very  elegant  ornamental  china,"  1769.  Jacob  de  Acosta, 
who  mends  china  and  glasses  with  cement,  has  "  all  sorts 
of  marble  or  china  furniture  such  as  is  used  in  ornament- 
ing chests  of  drawers  or  chimney  pieces,"  1770;  Henry 
Wilmot  has  "  the  greatest  variety  of  ornamental  china, 
consisting  of  groups,  setts  of  figures,  pairs,  and  jars  just 
opened,"  1770;  and  Mr.  Nash  offers  some  "superb  vases 
for  the  toilet,"  1  77 1 . 

Wax-work  ornaments  appear  in  1765;  glass  pyramids 
in  1764;  and  "glasses  to  grow  flowers,"  1775. 

The  dressing-tables  were  furnished  with  every  luxury, 
and  shaving  boxes  and  brushes  of  all  sorts  are  found  in  1  756. 
"  Neat  Morocco  tweese  cases  with  silver  door,  lock  and 
key,"  1759.  Complete  shaving  equipages,  japanned  comb 
trays,  and  India  dressing-boxes  are  imported  in  1759; 
complete  sets  of  shaving  utensils  in  shagreen  cases,  1760; 
ladies'  equipage,  with  everything  complete  for  a  fashion- 
able toilet,  1  76  1  ;  "shaving  equipages,  holding  razors,  scis- 
sars,  penknives,  combs,  hones,  oil  bottle,  brush  and  soap 
box  with  places  for  paper,  pens  and  ink,"  1761  ;  straw 
dressing-boxes  with  private  drawers,  1 764  ;  and  fish  skin 
razor  cases,  1774.     "Very  fine  travelling  cases  for  ladies 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


and  gentlemen  contain  everything  to  make  a  journey  com- 
fortable, and  some  of  these  are  adapted  for  army  officers." 
The  "seal-skin  portmantua  "  is  fashionable  towards  1776. 

The  desk  and  escritoire  were  furnished  with  many  ar- 
ticles familiar  to-day :  but  sand  to  sprinkle  upon  and  dry  the 
ink,  and  wafers  and  quill  pens  have  now  almost  disappeared. 
Hard  metal  inkstands  with  candlesticks  are  advertised  in 
1750;  large  and  small  pewter  standishes  in  1759;  glass 
ink  pots  with  brass  tops,  ditto  for  sand,  1759;  brass  ink 
pots,  1 76 1  ;  "ink  equipages  with  silver  plated  furniture 
for  the  nobility,  gentry,  public  officers,  etc.,  and  others  of 
inferior  size  and  quality  "  are  advertised  by  James  Riving- 
ton  in  1 77 1  ;  and  japann'd,  brass,  leather  and  paper  ink- 
stands appear  in  1774.  Neat  red  and  blue  morocco  letter 
cases  with  locks  (1750);  red  leather  letter  cases;  beau- 
tiful red  and  blue  morocco  letter  cases  with  spring  locks  ; 
neat  shagreen  ink  horns ;  ivory  and  tortoise-shell  mem- 
orandum books  ( 1 76 1 )  ;  fountain  pens;  cedar  pencils 
(1750);  sealing-wax,  and  quills;  vermilion  and  common 
wafers  (1759);  ivory  paper-cutters  (1761);  lignum  vitas 
rulers  ;  letter  scales  ;  black  lead  pencils  with  steel  cases  for 
the  same;  ink-powder  (1762);  wafers,  black  and  red; 
gilt  message  cards;  and  letter  files  (1765).  Ivory,  tortoise- 
shell,  shagreen  and  pear-tree  memorandum  books  are  also 
advertised.     Ladies'  memorandum  blocks  occur  in  1764. 

Clockmakers  are  numerous,  John  Bell  advertises  in 
1734;  Aaron  Miller,  of  Elizabethtown,  in  1747;  and 
Thomas  Perry,  of  London,  in  Dock  Street,  and  "  Moses 
Clements  in  the  Broad-way,  New  York,"  in  1749. 

A  handsome  japanned  clock,  made  by  Allsop  of  Lon- 
don, appears  facing  this  page.  It  has  always  been  in  the 
Bleecker  family,  and  descended   from  Garrit  Van  Sant 

302 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Bleecker,  of  Albany,  to  one  of  his  daughters.  It  is  now 
in  the  home  of  Mrs.  J.  Ten  Eyck,  Albany. 

"  Clock  case  cupboards "  are  brought  over  by  the 
Batc/ie/or,  1 75 1  ;  Samuel  Bowne,  Burling-Slip,  has  some 
"japanned  and  walnut-cased  clocks,"  r 75 1  ;  Dirck  Brinck- 
erhoff  is  at  the  Sign  of  the  Golden  Lock,  in  Dock  Street; 
"  Uriah  Hendricks,  at  his  store  next  door  to  the  Sign  of  the 
Golden  Key  in  Hanover  Square  ( 1756),  has  imported  "  two 
fine  repeating  eight  day  clocks,  which  strike  every  half  hour 
and  repeat  "  ;  Thomas  Perry,  watchmaker,  from  London, 
"  in  Hanover  Square,  makes  and  cleans  all  sorts  of  clocks 
and  watches."  "  He  will  import,  if  bespoke,  good  war- 
ranted clocks  at  14,  they  paying  freight  and  insurance, 
and  clocks  without  cases  for  ^10."  (1756.) 

George  Chester,  from  London,  opens  a  shop  at  the 
Sign  of  the  Dial,  on  the  new  Dock;  and  Garden  Proctor 
mends  and  cleans  musical,  repeating,  chimney  and  plain 
clocks  in  1757  ;  Abraham  Brasher,  of  Wall  Street  ( 1757)  ; 
Solomon  Marache,  opposite  the  Fort ;  John  Est,  at  the 
Dial  and  Time  in  Broadway  ;  and  Thomas  Gordon,  from 
London,  opposite  the  Merchants'  Coffee  House  (1759)  sell 
various  kinds  of  timepieces.  Edward  Agar,  in  Beaver 
Street,  brings  from  London  "  a  very  neat  table  clock  which 
repeats  the  quarters  on  six  bells"  (1761);  Joseph  Clarke 
imports  from  London  some  "  exceedingly  good  eight-day 
clocks  in  very  neat  mahogany  cases,"  and  two  dials,  "  one 
in  a  covered  gilt  frame  large  enough  for  a  church  or  a 
gentleman's  house."  (1768.) 

In  1768,  John  Sebastian  Stephany,  Chymist,  has  "for 
sale  for  cash  a  new  and  ingenious  Clock  Work,  just  im- 
ported from  Germany,  and  made  there  by  one  of  the  most 
ingenious  and  celebrated  Clock-makers  in  Germany.  It 

303 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


plays  nine  different  selected  musical  tunes,  and  every  one 
as  exact  as  can  be  done  on  the  best  musical  instrument ; 
and  changes  its  music  every  hour.  It  is  done  with  i  i 
clocks  and  22  hammers.  It  has  an  ingenious  striking  work 
for  every  hour  and  quarter  of  an  hour  ;  it  repeats  8  Days, 
Hours,  and  Minutes  and  shows  the  Month,  and  Days  of 
the  Month." 

"  At  the  Sign  of  the  Clock  and  Two  Watches,  oppo- 
site to  Mr.  Roorback's  at  the  Fly  Market  is  made  and  re- 
paired at  reasonable  Rates,  Clocks  and  Watches ;  will  keep 
in  Repair  by  the  Year,  Clocks  plain  or  musical;  .... 
China  is  also  rivited  at  the  said  Shop  three  different  ways 
and  ornamented  with  Birds,  Beasts,  Fish,  Flowers,  or 
Pieces  of  Masonry  by  a  curious  and  skilful  Workman." 
(1769.) 

Isaac  Heron  (1770),  watchmaker,  facing  the  Coffee 
House  Bridge,  has  "  a  musical  clock  noble  and  elegant 
cost  in  England  £80,"  and  "  a  neat  and  extraordinary 
good  chamber  Repeating  Clock." 

Stephen  Sands,  1772,  William  Pearson,  jr.,  and  Will- 
iam Kumbel,  1775,  were  also  in  this  business.  The  two 
bracket  or  pedestal  clocks  of  the  period  represented  on 
page  305  are  owned  by  Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster  of  New 
York.  The  one  to  the  left  was  long  in  the  Broadway 
home  of  the  Watts  family  ;  the  second  one,  with  chimes, 
belonged  to  the  de  Peysters  and  bears  the  name  of  Robert 
Henderson,  who  made  clocks  at  St.  Martin's  Court,  Lon- 
don, in  1772,  and  at  18  Bridgewater  Square  in  1800— '5. 
The  names  of  the  tunes  are  engraved  above  the  dial  and 
include  the  March  from  Scipio,  Sukey  Bids  Me,  and  Miss 
Fox's  Minuet. 

Music  was  by  no  means  neglected  in  New  York,  and 

304 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


CLOCKS 


Owned  by  Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  New  York.     See  page  304. 

competent  teachers  were  not  lacking.  In  1750,  six  very 
fine  violins  and  some  German  rlutes  are  for  sale;  in  1757, 
a  good  English  spinet  and  some  rlutes.  In  1759,  a  gen- 
tleman has  a  lot  of  musical  goods  imported  from  Naples 
and  London,  including  two  good  violins,  a  girl's  six- 
stringed  bass  viol;  "exceeding  good  German  Flutes  for 
three  Dollars,  each  ;  likewise  others  with  2,  3,  4,  or  5 
middle  Pieces  to  change  the  Tones  and  Voice  do.  Like- 
wise Bass,  viol  Strings  of  all  Sizes,  and  silvered  Ones  for 
Basses,  Violins  and  Tenors.  A  great  Collection  of  Wrote 
and  Printed  Music  from  Italy  and  England." 

James  Rivington,  Hanover  Square,  has  in  1760  "  Fid- 
dles with  Bows  or  Fiddle-Sticks,  Mutes,  Bridges  and  Screw 

3°5 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


Pins,  German  Flutes,  common  Flutes,  Fifes,  Pitch  Pipes, 
Hautboy  Reeds,  Bassoon  Reeds,  and  mouth-pieces  for 
French  horns.  ist,  2d,  3d  and  4th  Fiddle  Strings,  very 
excellent;  ditto  Blue,  for  Basses;"  also  a  lot  of  Music 
Books. 

Other  instruments  on  sale  include :  a  "  harpsichord 
with  three  stops,"  1758  ;  "  a  complete  set  of  bagpipes  £4," 
1760;  "  a  chamber  organ,  with  5  stops,  silvered  pipes,  case 
9  feet  high  and  6  feet  wide,  new  bellows,  and  good  in  con- 
dition, £60  New  York  currency,  scarce  a  quarter  of  the 
sum  which  a  new  organ  will  cost,"  1762  ;  violins  in  cases, 
German  flutes,  "  speckled  screw  bows,"  "  a  violoncello 
and  case"  and  "an  excellent  bassoon  with  reeds,"  1764; 
"  two  very  fine  handorgans,  one  with  four  barrels  and  the 
other  with  two  barrels,"  1767;  "a  new  chamber  organ 
of  six  stops  and  neat  gilt  front,"  1768  ;  "a  very  fine  tone 
harpsichord  and  a  forte  piano,"  1770.  John  Shimble, 
"  organ  builder  from  Philadelphia  makes  and  repairs  all 
kinds  of  organs  harpsichords  spinnets  and  pianos,"  1772. 

A  parlour  organ  of  the  period  shown  on  page  307  be- 
longed to  Anthony  Duane,  an  officer  in  the  English  navy. 
It  descended  to  his  son  James  Duane,  first  Mayor  of  New 
York  under  the  new  government,  and  from  the  latter's 
youngest  daughter,  Catharine  Livingston  Duane,  to  James 
Duane  Featherstonhaugh.  It  is  now  owned  by  Mr. 
George  W.  Featherstonhaugh,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  The 
organ  is  fifty-two  inches  high  and  twenty-six  inches  wide. 
It  is  made  of  mahogany.  The  wind  is  supplied  by  a  bel- 
lows worked  by  a  crank.  The  keys  are  lifted  by  wire 
elevations  on  a  revolving  barrel.  The  organ  contains  five 
barrels,  playing  ten  tunes  each.     All  the  tunes  are  English. 

The  card  table  on  page  309  belongs  to  Miss  Anna 

306 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

Vandenberg,  of  Albany.  It  was  owned  by  the  Lush 
family,  and  is  somewhat  unusual  in  having  five  legs. 
Games  were  no  less  popular  in  New  York  than  in  the 
Southern  cities  and  plantations. 


PARLOUR  ORGAN 

Owned  by  Anthony  Duane,  nuw  by  Mr.  George  W.  Featherstonhaugh,  Schenectady.     See  page  306. 

The  "  best  playing  cards  "  are  advertised  among  the 
importations  of  1749  ;  battledores,  1  75  1  ;  "  quadrille  boxes 
for  the  fashionable  game,"  1761  ;  "Henry  VIII.  and 
Highland  playing-cards,"  1 76 1  ;  "Merry  Andrew  and 
Highland   playing   cards "    and  "  Great   Mogul  playing 

307 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


cards,"  1764;  backgammon  tables  and  drum  battledores 
and  shuttlecocks  and  "  backgammon  tables  lined  to  pre- 
vent the  odious  sound  of  the  boxes,"  1764;  chess,  draft 
and  cribbage  boards,  with  men,  dice  and  boxes,  1771  ; 
"  quadrille  pools,"  1772;  "paper  and  japanned  quadrille 
pools,  and  pearl  and  ivory  fish  and  counters,"  1773. 

Children's  toys  are  frequently  mentioned  in  the  impor- 
tations :  the  Charming  Rachel  brings  "  all  sorts  of  children's 
toys,"  1752;  "boxes  of  household  furniture  for  children" 
occur  in  1759  ;  and  "  a  large  quantity  of  Dutch  and  Eng- 
lish toys  "  in  1  767. 

The  ladies  of  the  period  were  accomplished  in  needle- 
work, and  that  they  made  various  ornaments  for  their 
homes  is  evident  from  advertisements  for  teaching  the 
fashionable  decorative  arts  of  the  day.     One  in  1731  is: 

"  Martha  Gazley,  late  from  Great  Britain-,  now  in  the 
City  of  New  York,  Makes  and  Teaches  the  following  curi- 
ous Works,  viz.  Artificial  Fruits  and  Flowers  and  other 
Wax-Work,  Nuns-Work,  Philligree  and  Pencil  Work  upon 
Muslin,  all  sorts  of  Needle- Work  and  Raising  of  Paste,  as 
also  to  Paint  upon  Glass,  and  Transparent  for  Sconces, 
with  other  Works.  If  any  young  Gentlewomen,  or  oth- 
ers, are  inclined  to  learn  any  or  all  of  the  above  mentioned 
curious  Works,  they  may  be  carefully  taught  and  instructed 
in  the  same  by  the  said  Martha  Gazley  at  present  at  the 
Widdow  Butlers,  near  the  Queen's  head  Tavern,  in  Will- 
iam Street,  not  far  from  Captain  Anthony  Rutgers." 

In  1  76  1,  the  wife  of  John  Haugan,  at  the  Horse  and 
Cart  Street,  advertises  that  she  "  stamps  linen  China  blue 
or  deep  blue,  or  any  other  colour  that  Gentlemen  and  La- 
dies fancies.     Bed  sprays,  Women's  Gowns." 

In  1769,  "Clementina  and  Jane  Fergusson  intend  re- 

308 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


MAHOGANY   CARD   TABLE   AND  CHAIR 
Owned  by  Miss  Anna  Vandenberg,  Albany.     See  page  306. 


moving  their  school  the  first  of  May  next  to  Bayard  Street, 
opposite  the  house  of  John  Livingston,  Esq.,  where  they 
will  continue  to  teach  reading,  writing,  plain  needlework, 
sampler,  crowning,  Dresden  catgut :  shading  in  silk  on 
Holland  or  cambrick  and  in  silk  or  worsted  on  canvas ; 
as  also  all  sorts  of  needlework  in  use  for  dress  or  furni- 
ture." 

In  1773,  Mrs.  Cole,  from  London,  teaches  ladies 
"  tambour-work  and  embroidery  "  ;  and  in  the  same  year 
William  and  Sarah  Long,  from  London,  teach  "  Tambour 
work  in  gold,  silver,  and  cotton." 

In  1774,  Mrs.  Belton,  who  has  a  French  and  English 
school,  teaches  "  tapestry,  embroidery,  catgut,  sprigging 
of  muslin,"  etc.,  etc. 

A  specimen  of  the  handiwork  of  the  period  is  shown 

309 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


on  page  311.  This  is  a  screen  worked  in  1 776,  and 
owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Rankin  at  the  Van  Rensselaer 
house,  Cherry  Mill,  Albany.  The  standard  is  mahogany 
with  "  snake  "  feet. 

Among  the  importations,  "  catgut  gauze,"  "  catgut 
silk  "  and  "  drawn  catgut "  frequently  occur.  We  also 
rind  "  cruels  sorted  in  shades,"  1752;  "ivory  shuttles  for 
knotting  fringe,"  1752;  ladies  "  knitting  and  work  boxes," 
1  794  ;  "  coarse  and  fine  yellow  canvass  for  work  or  win- 
dow blinds,"  1 77 1  ;  and  tambour  cases  and  needles,  1774. 

The  looking-glass  was  very  important  at  all  periods. 
In  1730,  James  Foddy  from  London  undertook  "to 
alter  and  amend  old  looking  glasses,"  and  it  would  ap- 
pear from  the  constant  advertisements  that  there  was  a 
great  demand  for  looking-glasses  of  the  newest  fashion. 
The  large  pier  glass  with  its  carved  frame,  a  glass  over 
the  mantel-piece  and  convex  mirrors  with  sconces  on 
either  side  were  common  ornaments  of  the  drawing-room. 

"  New  fashion  sconces  and  looking-glasses"  are  constantly 
appearing  among  the  importations  from  1 749  onward.  From 
about  1752,  they  are  carved  and  gilt;  "a  variety  of  sconces 
with  branches  in  wallnut  frames  with  gilt  edges,"  are  offered 
in  1757  ;  pier  glasses  of  all  sizes  are  favourite  importations; 
and  convex  lenses  and  concave  mirrors,  1  764  ;  "  two  carved 
white  framed  sconce  glasses  and  one  mahogany  ditto," 
1768;  oval  sconces  with  gilt  frames,  1773;  "looking 
glasses  the  most  fashionable,  neat  and  elegant  ever  im- 
ported into  this  city,  oval  glasses,  pier  do.  and  sconces  in 
burnish'd  gold,  glass  border'd,  mahogany  and  black  walnut 
frames  with  gilt  ornaments  of  all  sizes;  likewise  some 
elegant  gerandoles,"  1774,  framed  mahogany  and  black 
walnut,  square  and  oval  sconces,  glasses  and  girandoles, 

310 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


ft 


1775.  Handsome  dressing- 
glasses  are  constantly  being 
offered  for  sale;  sometimes 
these  are  gilt,  sometimes  ja- 
panned, sometimes  black  wal- 
nut, and  frequently  they  are 
furnished  with  sconces. 

Lamps  and  lanterns  were 
imported  in  considerable  vari- 
ety :  the  entries  and  halls  were 
lighted  by  square  and  spherical 
lanterns.  The  standard  sizes 
were  18x14  inches,  16  x  12, 
iox  14,  9x4,8x4  and  7x4. 
A  few  of  the  announcements 
are  as  follows:  tine  large  lamps 
at  twenty  shillings  apiece,  1  752; 
barrel  and  bell  glass  lanthorns 
for  entries,  1753;  glass  lamps 
and  chamber  lamps,  1759; 
horns  for  lanterns,  1759; 
pocket  lanterns,  1761;  glass 
lamps  for  halls,  1761;  glass, 
tin,  and  horn  lanterns,  1763; 
square  and  globe  lanterns  for 
halls  and  staircases,  1 764  ;  large 
glass  lanterns  and  chamber 
lamps,  1765;  "lamps  of  the 
newest  patterns,  very  useful  for  sick  persons,"  1770;  and 
"square  glass  and  globe  lanthorns  and  chamber  lamps," 
1771. 

Candlesticks  of  all  kinds  were  made  here  as  well  as 


SCREEN  WORKED  IN  ljj6 
Owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Rankin,  Albany. 
See  page  3  I o. 


3'» 


THE  FURNITURE  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 


imported.  Among  the  kinds  in  demand  we  note:  brass 
ball  iron  candlesticks,  "  some  curious  four  armed  cut  glass 
candlesticks  ornamented  with  stars  and  drops,  properly 
called  girandoles,"  1762;  brass  snuffer  dishes,  1 764  ;  "  en- 
amel'd  and  japan'd  candlesticks  for  toilets  and  tea-tables  " 
and  "candle  shade  slyders "  1765;  "Japanned  and  Ponti- 
pool  table  and  chamber  candlesticks,"  1768;  "iron  and 
japann'd  candlesticks,  1773;  red,  green,  gilt,  and  black 
japanned  candlesticks,  with  snuffers  and  extinguishers, 
1773  ;  candle  frames  and  screens,  with  japanned  and  skin 
cases,  1774;  and  candle  screens,  1776. 


